Fostering Service Allowances 2021/22 - Key legislation, guidance and case-law: Children and Families Directorate - Procedures Online
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Fostering Service Allowances 2021/22 Children and Families Directorate Key legislation, guidance and case-law: 23rd April 2021 Review 31.3.22
Care Standards Act 2000 Children Act 1989 Children Act 2004 Children and Young Persons Act 2008 Local Authorities Social Services Act 1970 Equality Act 2010 Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 (“2010 Regulations”) Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 (“2011 Regulations”) Children Act guidance National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services Family and Friends Care: Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities January 2011 R(X) v London Borough of Tower Hamlets [2013] EWHC 480 (Admin); [2013] EWCA Civ 904. Applies to: Foster carers approved under Regulation 27 of the 2011 Regulations Foster carers temporarily approved Regulation 24 of the 2010 Regulations. Applies from: 1st April 2021 First scheduled review: 31st March 2022 2
1. INTRODUCTION This policy supersedes all previous policies on the provision of payments to persons approved by Manchester City Council as foster carers in accordance with regulation 27 of the 2011 Fostering Regulations, or temporarily approved under regulation 24 of the 2010 Placement Planning and Review Regulations. It applies to both related and unrelated foster carers, and to both long-term and short-term placements. In the formulation of this policy, the Council has considered recent case law decisions, the applicable legislation and statutory guidance. It has consulted with the Fostering Team and looked at the feedback from Manchester Foster Carers who have resigned from the service and the feedback from enquiries from members of the public who have chosen not to proceed with an application to foster with the Council. The Council has scoped fostering payment schemes of neighbouring authorities. The Council has also had due regard to its public sector equality duties under the Equality Act 2010. This policy will be reviewed in March 2022. The Council intends to consult with foster carers and other interested parties in order to decide whether and if so how the policy should be modified to better suit the needs of those to whom it applies, having regard to the availability of resources and the Council’s strategic duties under the Children Act 1989. This policy applies to the payment of both “allowances” and “payment for skills” fee. An allowance is an amount paid to a foster carer to meet the child’s needs and is linked to the National Minimum Foster Allowance rates. Additional, “one-off” payments can be made where authorised, pursuant to section 23 of the Children Act 1989. A payment for skills fee is an amount paid to the foster carer in order to secure and/or retain her/his services, and is recognition of skills, experience and additional tasks undertaken by the carer. It is paid to facilitate both the Council’s compliance with its sufficiency duty under section 22G of that Act, and the placement preference under section 22C(7) thereof. 3
2. DEFINITIONS "Recruited Foster Carer" A recruited foster carer is a person who is approved as a local authority foster carer in accordance with Regulation 27 of the 2011 Regulations. Recruited foster carers provide placements for the general looked after population rather than children with whom they have had a prior connection. "Family and Friends Carer Foster Carer/Connected Person Foster Carer" A family and friends/connected person foster carer is a relative, friend, or other person connected with a looked after child who is also approved as a local authority foster parent in accordance with Regulation 27 of the 2011 Regulations, or temporarily approved under Regulation 24 of the 2010 Regulations. Foster carers who are or were temporarily approved under Regulation 24 are termed family and friends foster carers as they take placements of children with whom they have had a prior connection. 3. KEY PRINCIPLES 3.1 The Fostering Services Regulations 2011 require the approving agency (Manchester City Council) to enter into a written agreement with a Foster Carer at the time of their approval and following each annual review of their approval. 3.2 All foster carers approved under Regulation 27 of the 2011 Regulations, or temporarily approved under Regulation 24 of the 2010 Regulations will receive a weekly allowance. This is based on the weekly national minimum fostering allowance as recommended by the Government and is subject to annual uplift from the 1st April each year. This payment represents what it is calculated it costs to care for a looked after child. 3.3 All foster carers approved under Regulation 27 will in addition be eligible for a weekly payment for skills fee subject to continuing professional development and training. This payment is in recognition of the skills that a carer has and the training that they have attended and the additional tasks they may be required to undertake. As carers gain skills and experience they are able to progress from Band 1 to Band 2 and receive a higher skills payment fee. 3.4 All foster carers approved under Regulation 27 will be allocated a supervising social worker and Fostering Support Worker who will make contact with them on at least a once a month basis and will be able to assist in any matters relating to all payments while a child is in placement. 3.5 All payments will be made by BACS electronic transfer within two weeks of placement and thereafter on a fortnightly basis. 3.6 Any one-off payments incurred by the foster carer can be reimbursed via their supervising social worker subject to the proper approval and authorisation process. 4
3.7 Allowance payments are non-taxable and are specifically for the needs of the child in placement 3.8 The payments for skills fees are linked to Regulation 27 approval and the successful completion of each band of professional development training. 3.9 Where foster carers do not undertake and complete professional development training at the relevant band level or complete tasks associated with that band they will not be eligible for fee payments for that band level and will only receive the allowance for the child. 3.10 Payment for skills fees payments are taxable at a rate determined on an annual basis by Her Majesties Revenue and Customs (HMRC). 3.11 Foster Carers will be consulted prior to any major changes to the payment scheme. 3.12 All payments will be reviewed on an annual basis or more often should circumstances require. 3.13 Carers are expected to participate in training. Training is linked to the training and development standards set out by the Training Support Development Standards (TSDS). There are slightly different expectations for family and friends carers and for short break carers. 4. THE PAYMENT SCHEME In England, the government has introduced national minimum allowances for fosters carers to cover the cost of caring for a child in their home and there is an annual increase on 1st April every year. All foster carers fostering for Manchester City Council will receive this allowance. In addition foster carers for Manchester City Council may also receive a fee following completion of preparation training which is linked to the child's particular needs and age and is a reflection of the skills, abilities, length of experience and professional expertise the foster carer has and any additional tasks that the carer may be asked to undertake, such as helping and supporting new foster carers and assisting with training and recruitment. This payment for skills fee varies between £108 and £270 per week. 4.1 Foster carers temporarily approved as immediate placements under Regulation 24 ( prior to full home assessment and presentation to Fostering Panel) All foster carers temporarily approved under Regulation 24 will receive: • A weekly allowance payment linked to the National Minimum Fostering allowance. • Other payments based on the specific assessed needs of a child that are not covered by the weekly allowance payment as agreed at the commencement of the placement. 5
4.2 Foster carers approved following preparation training, full home assessment and Fostering Panel recommendation under Regulation 27 All foster carers approved under Regulation 27 will receive: • A weekly allowance payment linked to the National Minimum Fostering allowance. • Birthday, holiday and Christmas/ Festival allowances based on the Fostering Network National basic allowances for the year 2021/22. • A payment for skills fee linked to the pre-training necessary to attain regulation 27 approval. There are 2 band levels. Most carers following training and approval will start at Band 1. Some carers with particular skills and qualifications may be eligible to start at the Band 2 level. For example a carer who has employment residential experience of working with adolescents and wants to foster older young people may be eligible to commence their fostering for Manchester at Band 2 following fostering preparation training. • Carers who look after children in specialist schemes will receive payment under separate schemes. These include carers for children in the TOPS specialist scheme, carers of children with disabilities and short breaks, foster carers caring for children referred as emergency placements ‘out of office’ hours and carers for mother and baby placements. • Foster carers transferring from other agencies who are caring for Manchester looked after children may transfer to Manchester’s Fostering Service at ‘no- detriment’ cost to themselves. These payments are individually negotiated prior to the carer transferring to become a Manchester foster carer. The payments apply only to the children already in placement, for other children subsequently placed; the carer will be paid on the appropriate band. The allowance for the child (2021/22) (PAYMENT FOR PLACEMENT) Every foster carer receives the following allowance based on the National recommended minimum. Age of child Allowance for the child 0-4 years £138 5-10 years £152 11-15 years £173 16+ £202 The allowance covers: ▪ Household costs, replacement clothing, pocket money, travel costs incurred for everyday family activity, travel to local schools, and any school and leisure activities which are a normal developmental need of a child (e.g. swimming lessons, school day trips, brownies). 6
Basic allowance as above – regulation 24 Criteria for payment • Child looked after by the Council and in placement. • Foster carer is approved as an immediate placement under regulation 24 Regulation 24 carers are given immediate approval for a 16 week period (or 24 weeks if 8 week extension required) and do not attend pre approval training. After the preapproval training and full assessment has been completed and continued approval as a Family and Friends carer ratified they will progress to band one. Special Guardianship and adoption allowances are based on the basic allowance and may not include a fee payment unless agreed by the Head of Service within a Special Guardianship/ Adoption support plan. If carers attend connected peoples preparation training and are approved following Fostering Panel, they are eligible to go onto Band 1. Post Panel approved connected carers who have not had the opportunity to attend mandatory preparation training will be given a period of 6 months to complete this training, and be paid at Band 1, but if they fail to attend training thereafter they will only be eligible for the allowance for the child and will not be paid a fee. Carers Receiving an Allowance Frozen at the pre-November 2015 Allowance Rates: For those foster carers who had their allowance rates frozen in November 2015 because the new allowance and fee structure left them worse off, we are implementing a different transitional arrangement that ends the indefinite nature of the freeze. As from June 2017 the arrangement is that these carers will be paid at the current fostering allowance rates, as opposed to the higher pre November 2015 rates, from the point at which the child or children currently in placement move out. Fee payment for the carer Band 1 Fee payment – professional development tier 1 Age of child Allowance for the Fee for the carer Total weekly child payment 0-4 years £ 138.00 £ 108.00 £ 246.00 5-10 years £ 152.00 £ 136.00 £ 288.00 11-15 years £ 173.00 £ 162.00 £ 335.00 16+ £ 202.00 £ 162.00 £ 364.00 These allowances are paid directly into the carers bank/building society (a week in advance and a week in arrears). The Criteria for Band 1 Carers 7
• Child looked after by the Council and in placement. • Carer completed necessary pre-approval training and core mandatory training requirements • Carer is approved under regulation 27 and meets National Minimum Standards for Fostering. • Carer willing to attend mandatory training (as outlined in Manchester City Council’s Foster Carers Agreement) on approval and in accordance with his or her individual training and support plan to develop skills to exceed national minimum standards in respect of a range of children with differing needs • Carer to undergo annual foster carer reviews • Carer to provide transport to a child in their care (or willing to arrange public transport ) • Carer willing to facilitate contact for children in their care (this will be risk assessed and the individual circumstances of every carer will be taken into account at the placement planning stage). • Carer to work together with the young person, their parents and all key agencies towards the aim of enabling the young person to achieve their potential. • Carer to attend regular meetings to maintain the short and long term plans for the young person. • Carer to maintain comprehensive Foster Carer’s Records which detail significant events relating to any sanctions, illnesses and medical treatments administered. These records should be available for the supervisor on arranged supervision visits and for the children’s social worker. • Carer to contribute to the child’s permanence report and to life story work and to the child’s personal education plan. • Carer to enable the child’s social worker to see the child on their own, on every visit and expect that the social worker may periodically see the child’s bedroom. • Carer has the capacity to fully engage with the professional task of fostering in line with the CWDC / TSD/ Diploma Training Standards. Band 2 Fee payment – professional development tier 2 .Age Allowance for the Fee for the carer Total weekly child payment 0-4 years £ 138.00 £ 216.00 £ 354.00 5-10 years £ 152.00 £ 245.00 £ 397.00 11-15 years £ 173.00 £ 270.00 £ 443.00 16+ £ 202.00 £ 270.00 £ 472.00 These allowances are paid directly into the carers bank/building society (a week in advance and a week in arrears). The Criteria for Band 2 Carers • Child looked after by the Council and in placement • Foster carer is approved under regulation 27. • Foster carer has completed and passed the band 2 training (as stipulated in the Foster Carer Agreement) or has specific skills and qualifications that exceed the National Minimum Standards for Fostering • Carer has completed all core mandatory training requirements 8
• Carer has completed or working to complete the CWDC, TSD Training Standards or Diploma or KEEP • Carer attends annual foster carer reviews • Carer to provide transport to a child in their care (or willing to arrange public transport ) • Carer to facilitate contact for children in their care (this will be risk assessed and the individual circumstances of every carer will be taken into account at the placement planning stage). This may involve a number of family members, where there is a need for this to be supervised. • Expectation that one carer in the household is always available to undertake these tasks as part of the fostering role – this can be via carers own support networks • Carer to have had some relevant professional childcare experience either as an established foster carer with a proven track record on sustaining and supporting a child with complex needs through to independence, or have worked with children in a professional capacity, for example as a residential care worker. • Carer offering placements for children with severe and/or complex needs where the child in placement requires a high level of care and supervision and the carer/s require/s a high level of training. Provide one adult to be available as required to the young person. • Carer to attend relevant ongoing training. • Carer to work together with the young person, their parents and all key agencies towards the aim of enabling the young person to achieve their potential. • Carer to attend regular meetings to maintain the short and long term plans for the young person. • Carer to maintain comprehensive Foster Carer’s Records which detail significant events relating to any sanctions, illnesses and medical treatments administered. These records should be available for the supervisor on arranged supervision visits and for the children’s social worker. • Carer to contribute to the child’s permanence report and to life story work and to the child’s personal education plan. • Carer to enable the child’s social worker to see the child on their own, on every visit and expect that the social worker may periodically see the child’s bedroom. • Carer to be prepared to help in one or more of the following: fostering recruitment drives, preparation training, and ‘buddying’ of newly approved carers, Foster Carer Forum, support groups, Foster carer activities, newsletter etc. • Carer to demonstrate skills with children who have experienced multiple separations and as a result have few positive attachments and little stability Retainers Carers, who are offering long term placements for children not previously known to them, are to be paid a retainer fee equivalent to the band 1 fee for a maximum of 4 weeks during introductions. This retainer is the equivalent to the age related band allowance for one child. For example if a carer is being introduced to a child aged 3 years who will be long term, the carer is entitled to £106 per week pro- rata during introductions and mileage expenses of 38p a mile for any journeys over 3 miles. If a carer is being introduced to two children aged 2 and 3 years of age the retainer will still be same, £106 per week, plus expenses. If a carer is having introductions with a 16 year old, the retainer would be £159 per week pro- rata. (Please refer to band 1 table) 9
Agency Carers transferring to Manchester City Council with child in placement Carers currently approved by other agencies who have a MCC child (ren) placed in their care will continue to receive the current rate of allowance as contracted with their agency for the length of the placement(s) of the child (ren) in placement at the time of transfer (where this is inclusive of birthday /Christmas allowance and or holiday allowance no further payments for these occurrences will be made). Any further child (ren) placed will be at the band rate that is applicable to the carers skills and the needs of the child. Caring for children with disabilities Foster carers for children with disabilities receive allowances at the appropriate rates using the same criteria as apply for carers who look after non- disabled children. However, when foster carers care for a child who is eligible and in receipt of the higher rate of DLA and the child has a severe disability, the carers fostering allowances will be higher, to reflect the particular specialism of the fostering task undertaken. The premium paid for the care of disabled children is only payable to carers who have attended preparation groups and been subject to an assessment or competency based assessment carried out by the Supervising Social Worker. Foster carers who provide link or respite care will receive allowances at the appropriate level pro- rata for the number of days a child is cared for. Foster Carer who look after children with disabilities full time, may be entitled to receive Disability Living Allowance in addition to their fostering allowances. Supervising Social Workers should ensure that all foster carers are assisted in making a claim for DLA to the Benefits Agency. The Foster Carer will be responsible for the DLA and should take steps to ensure they can provide evidence of how this money is spent. It is preferable that the money be placed in a separate bank account and that the carer keeps a record of what the money has been spent on and ensure that statements are available to be viewed by the Supervising Social Worker, if required. DLA rates for children For children under the age of 16 years the DLA rate is between £23.60 and £151.40. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is a tax-free benefit made up of 2 components (parts). The child might qualify for one or both components Care component Care component Weekly rate Lowest £23.70 Middle £60.00 Highest £89.60 10
Mobility component Mobility component Weekly rate Lower £23.70 Higher £62.55 Foster carers who care for a child who is eligible for the higher rate DLA can also claim exemption from Road Tax if they use their car for transporting the child and should be assisted to apply for this. They may also be able to obtain a reduction in their council tax subject to certain other criteria. Children with Severe Disabilities subject to higher DLA Age of child 0-17 years Basic £ 202.00 Band 1, regulation 27 £ 364.00 Band 2 £ 472.00 Foster care day rates for children with disabilities For providing day care, foster carers are provided with a flat rate fee. Basic rate Band 1 Band 2 Up to 5 hours £21 Up to 5 hours £27 Up to 5 hours £37 Over 5 hours £42 Over 5 hours £52 Over 5 hours £72 The Fostering Service also operates a multi- link short break carer’s scheme whereby carers are paid a retainer fee and agree to provide a number of days of overnight stays to particular disabled children in a year. More detailed information is available from the Fostering Service. Children with disabilities Short Break Care ready reckoner Basic Rate Age of child 0-18 1 day - £28.86 2 days - £57.71 3 days - £86.57 4 days - £115.43 5 days - £144.29 6 days - £173.14 7 days - £202.00 11
Band 1 Age of child 0-18 1 day - £52.00 2 days - £104.00 3 days - £156.00 4 days - £208.00 5 days - £260.00 6 days - £312.00 7 days - £364.00 Band 2 Age of child 0-18 1 day - £67.43 2 days - £134.86 3 days - £202.29 4 days - £269.71 5 days - £337.14 6 days - £404.57 7 days - £472.00 Caring for children with additional assessed needs: WRAPP (Wrap Around Service Promoting Permanence) If it is assessed that the needs of a child due to a severe attachment disorder or behavioural issues are above those expected to be managed within a fostering placement supported by a multiagency team (i.e. intensive specialist therapeutic intervention required) then an assessment will be completed by the Fostering Service and the following rates will be considered. A weekly retainer of £364 a week and an allowance of £184 when a child is placed. This equates to £548 a week per child. Criteria for payment • Child looked after by the Council and in placement. • Foster carer is providing a placement for a child with complex needs due to emotional or mental health needs which means they require intensive and therapeutic support • Foster carer is continuing professional and competency training as directed by the supervising social worker via training and support plan and/or at the Annual Foster Carer review. Staying put This is a payment for young people remaining in placement after the age of 18 years. The payment for 2021/22 is £230 per week. Supported lodgings 12
This sum will increase to £230 per week for 2021/22. Emergency Out Of Office Hours Placements Where foster carers have suitable vacancies and agree to take placements from the departments Emergency Duty Team will be offered a contract of employment and a retainer. Further details can be obtained from the Fostering Service. Pregnant Teenage Foster Care Foster carers will provide a home for a young person who is pregnant - assisting, advising and supporting them through their pregnancy and following the birth of their child. Foster carers will be expected to work closely with all the professionals involved in the young person’s life and to contribute to any assessments on the young person including their ability to parent. Allowance Breakdown for Parent /Child /Foster Carer In undertaking parent and child fostering foster carers will be paid an age related payment for the young person on band 2 and a maintenance equivalent sum for the infant. If the parent leaves the placement and the child remains, the carer will revert to the appropriate payment for a child of that age. If the parent is looked after and remains the placement and the child moves the carer will revert to the appropriate payment for a child of that age. The foster carer will be expected to provide all the ingredients to enable the parent to prepare a main meal each day unless stated otherwise in placement agreement meeting. In exceptional circumstances only, the carer may need to provide the parent with an allowance for meals particularly for cases when a parent is away from the carer’s home. Allowance guidance: Breakfast £2.50 Lunch £3.50 Dinner £5.00 The carer with a parent and child placement will provide a lunchbox for the parent and an allowance of £5.00 to cover an evening meal if it is necessary. Equipment and initial Clothing allowances Where both the parent and the child are looked after initial clothing and equipment allowance apply to both placements as set out in the payments for carers guide. Where the parent is looked after but the child is not then the foster carer can claim initial clothing and equipment in the parent’s name that is required for the child. The amount of the allowance paid will be dependant on the parent’s benefits allowance and income and they will be expected to contribute. 13
If a parent is in receipt of benefits and no other income (eg. contributions from the other parent) then the following items would be agreed: • Up to £200 initial clothing for the looked after parent • Up to £70 initial clothing for the child • Up to £200 on baby equipment to include buggy and high chair, bottles etc • Up to £200 for cot, mattress and bedding On the ending of a placement if the parent is moving with the child the only item that must remain with the foster carer is the cot (parent can take mattress and bedding). The payments need to be discussed and agreed at the placement planning meeting and form part of the contract. Where the child is looked after but the parent is not, clothing and equipment may be purchased for the child as set out in the payments for carers guide. In exceptional circumstances an initial clothing allowance for the parent can be purchased against the child’s name for a maximum of £200. The request for such a payment would need to be discussed and agreed at the placement planning meeting and form part of the contract. Parent Benefit Claims/Guidance and Entitlements The following information can be obtained from the direct.gov website which is excellent in explaining who is entitled. Online claims can be made and the website has a benefits adviser who will calculate benefits an individual may be entitled to. What an individual is entitled to will depend on their circumstances and it is always advisable to contact Jobcentre Plus and Inland Revenue who will also advise on which benefits are payable. Jobcentre plus: http/www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/jobseekers/contact/jobcentre plus/dg Inland Revenue: http/www.direct.gov.uk/en/D11/directories/dg Income Support Child Benefit Payments to all carers regardless of approval status None of the above payments for foster carers cover: ▪ Initial clothing needs, school uniform on change of school. ▪ School holidays, holiday allowance for annual holiday. ▪ Costs in relation to leisure, therapy or specific tasks in relation to rehabilitation, preparation for permanence or independence, which are identified in the placement plan, care plan or at child care review and which are specific to that plan and significantly more expensive than ordinary family activities. ▪ Costs in relation to mileage in relation to the child for facilitating contact, transporting a child to school out of the local areas, or the foster carer’s attendance at meetings in relation to the child, or training for the carer. This will be paid at 36p a mile. 14
▪ Costs in relation to loss or damage caused by a foster child/legal liability in respect of a claim by a foster child or member of their family as the council has a separate insurance policy for this purpose. Tax relief for Foster Carers The introduction of tax relief in 2003 means that foster carers in the UK do not pay tax on their income from fostering, up to a maximum of £10,000 plus allowances. Tax threshold There are two elements to the exemption or ‘qualifying amount’. • Fixed amount - £10,000 per household a year • Additional amount per fostered child: £200 per week for a child aged under 11 and £250 per week for a child aged 11 or over. Income below this qualifying amount is tax free. If your total amount received from fostering exceeds the qualifying amount you can either pay tax on: • Your total amount received less the qualifying amount or • Your total amount received from foster care minus expenses. This means keeping records of precise expenditure throughout the tax year using receipts. If you are exempt, these tax arrangements will not affect any other income you may have (for example income from employment or investment income), which will be taxed in the normal way. Neither will the tax arrangements affect your personal allowance. If you are exempt, the full amount of your personal allowance is available to use against other income. You should always consult the HMRC website for more detailed information on taxation of your income. Parent and baby schemes HMRC will treat both parent and baby as being in foster care and you will be able to claim a weekly amount for each of them when calculating your qualifying amount. Disabled/special needs children If you are a specialist carer and find that the qualifying amount does not cover your expenses you will be able to use the following method: If you have specific items of expenditure which are clearly not of a type covered by normal maintenance (for example special equipment for a disabled child) HMRC will accept that actual expenditure consists of the qualifying amount plus the special items. If your expenses are exceptional by degree rather than type (for example exceptional cleaning or wear and tear because of the nature of the child's special needs), then you will need to use the sampling method. This means you should keep records for a sample period, which should normally be a period of not less than one month and preferably three. Multiply your resulting total to arrive at a fair estimate of total recurring expenses for the year. National Insurance contributions 15
As a foster carer you may be entitled to National Insurance Credits https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility If you are exempt from tax – you will not have to pay NICs. However, the Fostering Network recommends that you should look at whether it is in your interest to pay NICs. The number of years that you pay NICs may affect benefits you receive in future, for example the state pension. Record keeping You will need to keep a record of • your total receipts for the year from your local authority, and • the number of weeks that you care for each child placed with you in the year and the age (or birthday) of each child. A week runs from Monday to Sunday. Count any part of a week as a full week. If you are not exempt and you intend to calculate your actual profit from foster care worked out using total income, with separate tax relief for allowable expenses or capital allowances, you will need to keep sufficient records to support your figures. You will need to keep these records for six years. Further advice on tax issues You can contact your local HMRC office by phone or via the internet - see HMRC website for details, on http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/foster-carers.htm or contact Tax Aid, a charity which offers free, independent and confidential advice to anyone with a tax question or problem tel: 0845 120 3779. You can visit the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group website: www.litrg.org.uk/help/lowincome/selfemployed/assessment.cfm#foster Foster carers’ pension Foster carers are entitled to 'Home Responsibilities Protection' (HRP). This means the number of years foster carers need to work to qualify for the state pension will be reduced to take into account their years of caring for foster children. This change will increase a foster carers financial security and recognise the importance of the work that they carry out. For more information visit the pensions website at: www.pensionsservice.gov.uk HMRC have also created a free e-learning module for foster carers which provides detailed information about tax credits and benefits along with advice about registering as self-employed, qualifying for care relief, what records you need to keep for HMRC and how to foster in partnership. You can access the course here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob/fc/index.html Foster carers’ property – Insurance, damages, theft etc. Where a foster carer’s home or property is damaged or items are alleged to have been stolen by the activities of a young person in their care, the foster carer should first report the matter to their supervising social worker. They should then refer to their domestic/car insurance 16
policy and the police if necessary. Where an insurance policy does not provide cover, or the claim is refused, MCC will consider making a payment depending on the circumstances. The supervising social worker will need to prepare a report for consideration by the Fostering Head of Service. Only the Head of Service, in conjunction with MCC’s Insurance Officers, can agree any compensation. Any placement which poses a potentially significant risk to person or property must be detailed on the placement plan. A risk assessment should be undertaken and the safer caring agreement updated. The supervising social worker must clearly report such risks to their line manager who should in turn consult a Fostering Manager so a decision can be made about whether the risk is significant enough to be reported to the Council’s Insurance Officers. Payment adjustments Where over payments or under payments occur, the money will be recovered or supplemented as quickly as possible. This will usually be by an adjustment of the next payment. All foster carers have a responsibility to notify their social worker AND The Fostering Service by phone or email on the day a child leaves the placement or the next working day. If a foster carer continues to receive payments after reporting that a child has left their care then they must contact the Fostering Service immediately. Any overpayments must be repaid in full to Manchester City Council. Any exceptions to this must be agreed by the Head of Service. Temporary absence from placement child missing from home: • Less than 72 hours All payments continue • More than 72 hours All payments cease unless agreement reached in protocol meeting for this time to be extended. Temporary absence from placement (admission to hospital): • Full payments continue for up to 4 weeks and half those allowances thereafter. We will review this after 3 months. Tools and protective clothing The full cost of tools and protective clothing purchased by a foster carer for a person beginning work may be reimbursed. Christmas/Festival and Birthday allowances These allowances are included in the payment preceding the child's birthday or before Christmas. If placement is made prior to the birthday but after the payment 17
date, the allowance will be included in the next payment. Holiday allowance The holiday grant will normally be paid in June. Where a child/young person is only likely to be in placement a short time, or it is likely that another period of accommodation may be necessary, the supervising social worker should inform Foster Payments Team (fosterpayments@manchester.gov.uk) and an appropriate portion of the holiday allowance can be paid on request. If a child's placement changes prior to going on holiday, an appropriate reimbursement of the holiday allowance will be sought. Again the supervising social worker should inform the Foster Payments Team (fosterpayments@manchester.gov.uk) and make the appropriate changes in LiquidLogic. Age of child Christmas/ Holiday Birthday Religious Festival Allowance Allowance Allowance 0-4 yrs £ 152.00 £ 304.00 £ 152.00 5-10yrs £ 172.00 £ 344.00 £ 172.00 11-15yrs £ 215.00 £ 430.00 £ 215.00 16yrs plus £ 262.00 £ 524.00 £ 262.00 18 years - - £ 262.00 Pocket Money Principles underpinning pocket money and savings for children and young people The following principles should guide the payment of pocket money to looked after children and young people: • having pocket money is good for the child/young person. It gives a sense of independence and a measure of choice in making decisions about how the money is spent • receiving pocket money helps children understand the value of money and is the start of developing budgeting skills • carers must encourage children/young people to open a personal savings account. This should be part of the placement agreement meeting and plan • if the personal allowance element of the basic allowance paid to the carer is not all used for pocket money and items the child/young person may need, the remainder should be paid into a savings account in the child's name or into a Child Trust Fund, which will have been established for any child born on or after 01 September 2002, and before 02 January 2011. For children born after 03 January 2011, or before September 2002, Junior ISAs replace Child Trust Funds. The child's savings or pocket money should be placed in a personal account opened in the name of the child/young person. You should be flexible about how pocket money is paid. Whilst at primary school a fixed weekly amount 18
is reasonable. When a young person becomes a teenager a monthly allowance to cover pocket money, clothing and other larger personal items should be considered (depending on their maturity and situation) and discussed with them • the amount to be paid must be clarified at the outset of a placement and addressed within the placement plan. The rate of pocket money paid should be kept under review by all concerned. Setting the appropriate level is dependent on close communication between the carer, child/young person and their social worker and your supervising social worker. If a child/young person is not happy with amount paid, it should be clear how they can raise their dissatisfaction • increase pocket money by a fixed amount at each birthday. In many families an understanding may be reached that once a child is old enough to help out with basic household chores, top-ups to pocket money can be arranged in exchange for jobs done. In some foster placements this could be appropriate, especially in long term placements where such an understanding and trust could be built up over time. In shorter term placements this may be less easy to achieve or inappropriate • achieving the right level of pocket money/monthly allowance is dependent on carers knowing the child/young person well and having a trusting relationship, with the child/young person developing a good understanding of the foster family’s culture regarding use of money • as a child gets older s/he may want more expensive extras which can be reflected in pocket money or be paid for by the carer out of the basic allowance received • to promote a child/young person’s positive contact with their birth family top-ups to their pocket money will need to be made to enable birthday and Christmas presents to be bought for birth and foster family members • it would be unfair if foster children received either more or less than the foster carer’s own children where their ages are similar • the rate of pocket money paid to young people should be realistic. It is the responsibility of carers and social workers to help ensure the smooth transition to independent living after foster care. It would be unhelpful to this process if a young person’s pocket money enabled her/him to enter in to a lifestyle which was not possible if s/he later had to live independently • the withholding of pocket money as a punishment is not permissible and alternative acceptable sanctions should be used instead. Pocket money guidelines Pocket money guidelines are based on the amount paid to children in residential care: Weekly minimum amount Comments Age Under 5 years £3.00 5 years – 7 years £5.00 19
8 years – 10 years £6.00 11 years – 12 years £7.50 13 years -15 years £9.00 from 5 to 16 ‘extras’ can be 16 years – 17 years (year paid for birthday & Xmas £14.00 11) presents for family members 16years – 17 years (in £26.00 continuing education) 16 years - 17 years £15.00 (unemployed) Personal allowances for a child/young person placed Fostering Network recommend that within the basic weekly allowance there is a ‘personal allowances’ element. This is intended to cover both pocket money and other personal expenses for children and young people which could cover such items as cosmetics, deodorants, sanitary protection, shaving equipment, dry cleaning, landline and mobile telephone calls and comics. It is important, particularly with older children, to be clear from the start about who pays for what! Some households will continue to supply many items as part of the weekly ‘shop’ or from the general housekeeping pool. There needs to be discussion at the outset of the placement about how much of the personal allowances element should be paid to the carer and how much to the young person, as pocket money and savings. Mileage payments Mileage will be paid to foster carers in relation to the following: • taking a child to and from nursery / school if it falls out of your local catchment area (over 3 miles single journey carers should deduct the 3 miles each way from any claims). • Taking a child to appointments that are specific to a child being looked after, such as to and from contact visits, attending LAC reviews and LAC medicals. • Attending training and support groups or other such events specific to your role as a foster carer. • Taking a child to medical appointments outside what would be usually expected for a child without additional needs eg, regular hospital appointments, Specialist health appointments. Please submit any claim forms in a timely manner. Mileage payments are not made for the following such trips are expected to be covered within the maintenance fostering allowance: • To and from nursery / school within your school catchment area. • Regular health appointments such as GP and dental appointments. • Out of school activities such as cubs, football practice etc unless further than a 6 mile round trip. • Family trips and holidays. 20
Mileage is claimed by completing the departments Foster carers mileage form. This form must be completed in full with the correct milometer readings and the reasons for each journey clearly stated. The form must then be agreed and signed by your Supervising Social Worker who will forward to the Team manager for authorisation. The mileage is paid at 39p per mile. Hire of mini-bus Where the foster carer’s own vehicle is not large enough to transport their own family and foster children on a holiday of one week or more, there is the facility for the council to hire a larger car / minibus for this purpose - please see separate procedure available from your Supervising Social Worker. The amount contributed towards the cost of a car / minibus from the Fostering Service will depend on how many foster children you are caring for and will need to be agreed prior to a minibus been booked. • One foster child – 50% contribution • Two foster children – 75 % contribution • Three or more foster children – 100 % contribution If in exceptional circumstances such as your car breaking down and you provide extensive transport for looked after children we will consider providing a hire car for upto 14 days. (Car mileage entitlements remains were case have had to purchase petrol). Hire of Taxi’s Arrangements may be made by the local authority as part of a child’s care plan for taxi’s to be used where all other affective means of transport have been exhausted. This can only be arranged as part of the agreed care plan and via our contracts department, ensuring all safeguarding considerations have been met. In very exceptional circumstances the Fostering Team Manger can agree ‘one off’ arrangements for a period of up to 1 week were it has been assessed as vital in supporting a placement. For any further execution, written agreement would need to be sought from a Head of Service. Payments to carers facing an allegation who have children removed as a result Where carers are subject to an allegation and a child or children placed with them are removed as a result, the carer will continue to receive the fee element of their allowance for a period of up to eight weeks as if they were on band 1. i.e. a payment of £108 per week per child placed for a child or children aged 0-4 years to £162 per week if the child or children are aged 16-17 years of age. (see band 1 table) Should an investigation still be ongoing after the eight week period, the situation will be referred to the Head of Service for consideration to continue the payment. Retainer Payments to carers of infants under 2 years of age. 21
Foster carers who approved to care for babies under 2 years of age where it is a requirement that the main carer is not employed outside the home will receive retainer payments when no child is in placement of up to 4 weeks. This is equivalent to the fee element on band 1 which is £108 per week. If the carer refuses a placement of an infant or is unavailable for any reason and asks to be put ‘on hold’ the retainer will cease. Payments for computers and Internet access No payments are available to provide computer equipment or Internet access for foster carers. Foster carers are expected to provide their own computer equipment and Internet connection that is available to the children in their care, subject to current e-safety guidance. Telephone allowance Telephone expenses are included in the maintenance allowance. Exceptional payments will be considered, for example for long-distance and overseas calls which are necessary to promote contact between the child or young person and their family. These arrangements should be agreed when forming or reviewing the care plan. Itemised bills will be required for reimbursement of actual expenditure. Children with disabilities or special needs The child’s social worker should ensure that any relevant disability allowances are claimed. These benefits need to be taken into account when assessing exceptional expenditure. Child Team Managers should discuss these cases with the relevant Fostering Team Manager. The foster carer will be responsible for the child’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA), if applicable. Foster carers should take steps to ensure they can provide evidence of how this money has been used. The money should be put into a separate bank account. All expenditure must be agreed with the child’s social worker beforehand. The foster carer should keep a record of what the money has been spent on and ensure that statements are available to be viewed by social workers. Health and cultural needs Any additional costs associated with special dietary, skin or hair needs for health or cultural reasons will be negotiated as part of the placement agreement. Carers or children can elect to have the Christmas allowance paid at any other time of the year that correlates with another important festival. Cost of coaching etc. For exceptional sporting, drama, dance or music skill. It is expected that foster carers should meet costs of up to £10 per week of any lessons/sessions from their maintenance allowance. Any costs over and above this should be negotiated as part of the care plan and agreed between the Head of Fostering and Adoption. 22
Proms Fostering will pay for each young person to attend one prom to celebrate finishing statutory education. A maximum of £162 will be paid to cover the cost of dresses, suit hire etc. This must be authorised beforehand by Team Manager. Receipts must be provided prior to reimbursement. Foster carers doing additional tasks for the Fostering Service Carers willing to undertake additional tasks for the fostering service (where appropriate given the needs of the carer’s current placements), and these tasks are not part of the banding structure such as co-facilitating training of other foster carers, support work to the children of other carers (including supervision of contact), and other activities associated with the fostering task, will be entitled to a fee claim. The above tasks and fee applicable will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, agreed with the supervising social worker and will depend on the foster carer’s skills. Initial clothing allowance ▪ This allowance is to be paid only in those situations where children are placed in a foster home without adequate basic clothing. ▪ When a child is placed without adequate basic clothing, the foster carer should discuss with their supervising worker what clothing will be required in order to meet the child’s basic needs for the first month of placement. An initial payment can then be requested to ensure the carer is able to purchase basic clothing for the child/ children ▪ Following this, carers would be expected to purchase replacement clothing from the allowances they receive for a child. • However, if as a result of a particular need a child required additional clothing beyond what would normally be expected at the time of placement (for example a change of season requiring purchase of a winter coat or shoes) and a child did not have these on placement, a request could be made for additional payments to cover the additional cost of such items . • Initial clothing can only be paid during the first 6 months of placement. • If when a child is placed they do not have the required school uniform, the carers can make separate requests for payments for school uniforms using the guidance given below. ▪ Receipts should be obtained and given to the supervising social worker, who will pass these to the fostering manager. The money will be reimbursed in the next payment. Foster carers within the Northwest have drawn up the following lists of essential clothing for foster children. The prices listed equate to purchasing these items at the following stores; Asda, Tesco and Matalan. If items are purchased elsewhere at a 23
higher cost only the price below will be reimbursed and the carers will have to meet the shortfall themselves. Non-mobile baby - The maximum initial clothing claim is £161.00 4 Blankets £38.00 6 Vests £7.00 6 Baby grows £26.00 1 Baby sleeping bag £10.00 6 Bibs £6.00 1 All-In-One Outdoor Suit £20.00 2 Hats £4.00 3 Scratch Mittens £3.00 6 Various Outfits £47.00 Mobile baby (crawling/toddling) - The maximum initial clothing claim is £151.00 6 Vests £7.00 6 Baby grows/Pyjamas £28.00 6 Bibs £5.00 6 Socks £4.00 3 Dungarees/Trousers £33.00 6 T-Shirts £14.00 3 Jumpers/Sweatshirts £28.00 2 Soft Shoes £10.00 1 Outdoor Suit/Coat £15.00 2 Hats £4.00 2 Mittens £3.00 Mobile baby (walking outdoors) - The maximum initial clothing claim is £190.00 6 Vests £7.00 6 Baby grows/Pyjamas £31.00 6 Bibs £5.00 6 Socks £4.00 3 Dungarees/Trousers £31.00 6 T-Shirts £14.00 3 Jumpers/Sweatshirts £27.00 2 Soft Shoes £10.00 1 Outdoor Suit/Coat £20.00 2 Hats £5.00 2 Mittens £4.00 12 Underpants/Knickers (if potty training) £6.00 1 Shoes £26.00 Pre-school child (2-5 years) - The maximum initial clothing claim is £187.00 1 Dressing Gown £9.00 3 Pyjamas £14.00 6 Vests £10.00 12 Underpants/Knickers £12.00 24
12 Socks/Tights £10.00 4 Dungarees/Trousers/Joggers/Skirts £31.00 3 Sweatshirts/Jumpers £16.00 6 T-Shirts/Blouses £10.00 1 Coat/Jacket £18.00 2 Hats £5.00 2 Mittens £4.00 1 Shoes £20.00 1 Trainers/Wellingtons £20.00 1 Slippers £5.00 School aged child (5 - 11 years) - The maximum initial clothing claim is £230.00 1 Dressing Gown £12.00 3 Pyjamas/Nightwear £17.00 12 Socks £12.00 12 Underpants/Knickers £8.00 4 Joggers/Trousers/Skirts £41.00 3 Sweatshirts/Jumpers £29.00 6 T-Shirts £20.00 1 Outdoor Coat £20.00 2 Hats/Gloves £12.00 1 Shoes £28.00 1 Trainers £20.00 1 Wellingtons £9.00 Young people 12+ - The maximum initial clothing claim is £321.00 Boys Girls Socks 12 £12.00 Socks 12 £12.00 Underpants 12 £20.00 Bras 3 £15.00 Jeans/trousers 3 £45.00 Knickers 12 £12.00 T-Shirts 6 £30.00 Jeans/skirts 3 £43.00 Sweatshirts 3 £45.00 T-Shirts 6 £31.00 Tracksuit 1 £25.00 Sweatshirts 3 £48.00 Shoes/Boots 1 £27.00 Tracksuit 1 £26.00 Nightwear 3 £30.00 Shoes/Boots 1 £28.00 Coat 1 £30.00 Nightwear 3 £31.00 Trainers 1 £36.00 Coat 1 £31.00 Dressing Gown 1 £15.00 Trainers 1 £31.00 Dressing Gown 1 £15.00 School uniform - The maximum school uniform allowance is £184.00 Where a child needs specific items on a change of school, the following can be applied for under a separate budget, up to a maximum of £184.00 The prices listed equate to purchasing these items at the following stores; Asda, Tesco and Matalan. If items are purchased elsewhere at a higher cost only the price below will be reimbursed and the carers will have to meet the shortfall themselves. 25
The only exception to this is if a school dictates where the uniform is purchased and has set price lists. This will need to be shared with your supervising social worker and a list of equipment agreed with them for purchase. 3 Trousers/Skirts £25.00 3 Blouses/Shirts £18.00 1 School Blazer £31.00 2 Sweatshirts/Jumpers £18.00 1 Tie £5.00 1 School Bag £10.00 1 Pair Plimsolls £3.00 2 Summer dress / pinafore £15.00 1 Shorts £3.50 1 T-Shirt £3.00 1 Swimming Costume/Trunks £6.00 1 Football Boots/Hockey Boots £20.00 1 Football/Sports Kit £6.00 Basic fostering equipment and furniture This is provided either in preparation following approval or as needed by the discretion of the service. Equipment will be purchased by the supervising social worker through the preferred provider following agreement by the team manager or through another supplier of choice to the same value as that listed by the preferred provider by the carer. All spend must be agreed by the service prior to any purchase by the carer. Otherwise this may not be agreed or reimbursed. Basic Equipment will include: • Cot • Pram • Moses Blanket • Bottles • Steriliser • Car Seat • Safety gate • Single bed or bunk beds • Single wardrobe All equipment purchased remains the property of the council and is simply loaned to the carer. Then upon conclusion of a placement a decision can be taken on the equipment purchased as to whether or not it would be cost effective for the items to be transferred to a future placement or held in storage for future use. This would enable items to be transferred if purchased just prior to the conclusion of a placement or where the items are easily transferrable such as a car seat, safety gate, high chair etc. Refer a Friend Recruitment Reward Payment Our ‘refer a friend’ recruitment reward payment is designed to reward carers who refer someone to us who goes on to become a foster carer. We will pay a £500 reward payment to any MCC foster carer 26
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