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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.

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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.

Fostering

foster payment

36 replies

holiday88 · 06/05/2013 20:25

just wondered what other people did for money when they are waiting for a new placement

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lovesmileandlaugh · 06/05/2013 21:10

We've just been talking about this. We are about to go to panel with our LA, but other foster carers are telling us that they are recruiting too many foster carers and that they are spending long periods of time without a placement.
I've been trying to think of ways I can earn money, but also drop it, if we get a placement. I'd be interested to knows what everyone else does?

PearlyWhites · 15/05/2013 18:53

What do you mean do for money? I didn't think fostering was meant to be a job.

Flibbertyjibbet · 15/05/2013 19:14

Fostering is a very hard job - yes you get paid for when a child is with you. The LA's pay families to foster these days instead of keeping children in 'children's homes' like they used to. The fully staffed childrens homes cost a fortune to run and history has shown us that the children were often badly treated by the staff.

Holiday88 its a good question, we are debating whether to move to a larger house so that we can foster as DP has always wanted to do it. But we would not want to have to be dependent on the money as the 'work' can be unpredictable.

scarlet5tyger · 15/05/2013 20:43

Fostering is very much a job these days, albeit not a very well paid one! You're expected to be professional, complete increasing amounts of paperwork, advocate for the child at the highest level etc. Its not simply about having a child come and stay with you. Edward Timpson himself has said it's one of the most important jobs there is.

Holiday88 and LoveSmileLaugh, I find I have to take additional children in to be able to save enough money to keep me going if I ever have a gap in placements (but to be honest this has rarely happened). I then keep that money in an emergency savings account.

Worryingly though my own LA has just announced they plan to "cut" the number of children being brought into care. Quite how they plan to do this I don't know - presumably by leaving them in dangerous situations they would currently be removed from.

Cloverer · 15/05/2013 20:46

What's fostering if not a job Pearly? A hobby for ladies of independent means?

TheCutOfYourJib · 15/05/2013 20:59

Our la pay you a fee whether you have a placement or not. Presumed most others did aswell.

fasparent · 15/05/2013 21:09

Point too ponder comment from child returned too LA care from private foster care. "I used too come home too a home now I come home"
Money is not everything but a little extra would help, LA conditions are Victorian and out of date with modern society. Did not tell us 38 years ago we were self employed had jobs any way afraid cant do both. Just convenient for them.

TheCutOfYourJib · 15/05/2013 22:13

Sorry fas don't understand your post. Do you mean private foster carers provide a happier home than LA foster carers?
If so that is nonsense.

ZangelbertBingeldac · 15/05/2013 22:26

Bloody hell, pearlywhites, what a breathtakingly ignorant post.

fasparent · 16/05/2013 14:45

Quite the opposite child was happier with LA , Just LA's Carers need too be treated fairer across the board.

PearlyWhites · 18/05/2013 00:06

Zangle did you mean to be so rude? I was fostered as a child and my fps just received an allowance to cover the actual cost of looking after me I wasn't aware things had changed.

PearlyWhites · 18/05/2013 00:10

And Cloverer no not a hobby but thought fp received an allowance to cover the costs of raising a child and if you were already a sahm you could foster without needing an additional payment.

PearlyWhites · 18/05/2013 00:11

As in a wage.

PearlyWhites · 18/05/2013 00:19

In many us states foster parents do not receive any payment other than an allowance to cover the childs cost so it's not that unusual.

lovesmileandlaugh · 18/05/2013 07:52

Not wanting to get into any arguments here!
I will receive an allowance which will contribute to the household and family expenses aside from the FC specific needs.
It is less than the money I am not earning by reducing my hours at work to ensure that either me or DH are at home 24/7.
We can afford to live without it, but the standard of living we have will be less. I'm trying to think of ways that I can raise a bit extra for all my kids (birth and foster) to have the treats I want us all to have!

cazzmags · 18/05/2013 12:29

pearlywhites I'm guessing you are in the USA, maybe their system is different to ours.

As foster carers our LA pay us a basic allowance for the child in our care. Our LO goes without nothing he has lovely clothes, toys, food and goes to lots of after school activities like music club, swimming and beavers all of which come out of the allowance. Some of the allowance is allocated for household expenses and like lovesmileandlaugh we can live without it but why should we?

We undergo long and extensive training unpaid and then we love, care and advocate for children who are often very damaged and traumatised by their life experiences. We are not childminders and I do not mean that in any derogatory sense at all. The work we do is very specialised and requires a lot of sacrifice, commitment and hard work. The paperwork is never ending and don't get me started on the amount of professional meetings that we have to attend again all unpaid. For us and I believe most foster carers what we do is a vocation and we do it for the right reasons so why shouldn't we get some recompense for it? Is anyone suggesting that no care workers should receive financial support for what they do? Why should we be any different because we are foster carers.

There is a huge disparity in this country between foster carers who work with the LA and those who work for IFA's and indeed huge disparity between LA'S. IFA carers are paid a living wage and we aren't, some LA's pay retainers many don't. It seems money is a dirty word in many LA's and until the huge disparity in money between LA and IFA carers is addressed openly and fairly you will continue to see large numbers of LA carers walking away from something they adore doing because they basically can't afford to live without a placement.

Our LA doesn't pay retainers for carers without a placement. We currently have one permanent placement and approval for 2 more. We have the possibility of taking 2 more children in the near future but for me to do this I would have to give up my very secure part time job. That's fine for the 3,6,12 months they may be with us but what then? If at that time there are no placements I would find myself in the position of having to seek employment again 1) for financial reasons and 2) I'd go stir crazy with nothing to do!

plainjayne123 · 24/05/2013 20:18

Our LA pays an allowance which is supposed to be spent on the child. The fee element is about £30 a week, so it's not really a job that you can rely on if you need income.

Catfriend · 30/05/2013 08:27

Hi I am a new foster carer. I've gave up my job to become a foster carer full time. I have no placement and no income at the minute!!!! It is a worry, I'm just hoping for that phone call so I can start my fostering journey:)

lovesmileandlaugh · 30/05/2013 10:34

Hi Catfriend, we had to demonstrate we have enough money to live on if we don't have a placement. Did your LA/ agency not ensure you would be able to? Have you no income at all?

Hope you get that call soon!

Catfriend · 30/05/2013 15:41

Hi lovesmileandlaugh My LA never asked me about savings. They said it was highly unlikely to be without a placement!!! I really hope I get a call soon aswell cos I can't live on nothing!!!! Have you had to wait long for placements??? I have no income at all!!!

lovesmileandlaugh · 30/05/2013 15:44

We've been told by other carers that there has been an over-recruitment of foster carers, and our SSW has said it could be up to 9 months without a placement which is why they ensure we don't need the money.
How long have you been waiting? Are you able to claim benefits?

Catfriend · 30/05/2013 17:10

I've only been waiting 1 week but with no income at all it's hard. I have bills to pay and my own DD, which costs me a fortune ha ha ha. I'm not able to claim benefits as I left my j

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Catfriend · 30/05/2013 17:11

job voluntary so unable to cla

Catfriend · 30/05/2013 17:12

Claim anything. Sorry about messages my computer has a mind of it's own ha ha

Catfriend · 30/05/2013 17:18

Lovesmileandlaugh what area are you fr

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