Decision details

An annual payment review considered the ongoing Local Authority challenges in terms of the recruitment and retention of foster carers. It continued to consider allowances from competitors in neighbouring Authorities, moreover this year as a regional cluster is formed of a brand new, fostering recruitment and retention hub. The Department for Education (DfE) had funded and awarded a twelve-month pilot for BwD (as lead), Lancashire County Council (LCC), Blackpool, Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils to come together and deliver a collaborative recruitment service. The hub aimed to launch in May 2024 and was based on the premise that it regionally supported the increase from enquiry to approval of foster carers. To add to this, consideration was also been given to Independent Fostering Agencies in terms of rates of pay.

To support ongoing recruitment and retention, the payment rates awarded needed to try to be competitive and well promoted to attract prospective foster carers whilst alongside this, the service equally provided a strong and supportive package offer. It was paramount that not only efforts were made to increase fostering enquiries, but retain the existing cohort of foster carers remained a priority for the stability and permanence options for children who are in care.

The DfE awarded BwD the support of Fostering network to introduce the Mockingbird Model into the fostering service. The Mockingbird aimed to deliver sustainable foster care through an evidence-based model that was structured around the support and relationships an extended family provided. The model nurtured the relationships between children, young people, and foster families, supporting them to build a resilient and caring community and it was due to launch in October 2024.

To achieve all of this, the Council’s medium term financial plan had allocated an additional £300,000 to the various payment’s budgets in 2024/2025.

It was necessary to present an annual payments paper to Executive Board decision making this year 2024 – 25, to offer financial support to foster carers, but also to take into account Kinship Foster Carers, Special Guardianship Carers, Short Break Carers, Parent and Child Carers and foster carers who continued to care for young adults on a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement.

RESOLVED –

That the Executive Board:

·       Agrees to uplift foster carer allowances so that they are in line with the new national minimum allowances for 2024/25

·       Considers and agrees the proposed uplift for Parent and Child to a competitive one-off payment of £850 weekly plus additional child feed as outlined, as well as the Short Break carers uplift and the payment for ‘Staying Put’ which is proposed at 6.88% in line with national minimum allowances

Councillor Vicky McGurk returned to the meeting