Costs for meeting at DC's locality

[cappy123]

Hi all - apologies if this is clumsily written, don't think I've posted on here before. We're going to matching panel next month and will also see DC the day before panel for first time (both sets of SWs, and foster parents thought this would be a good idea and we were happy to do so). No intros, just observing briefly and from a safe distance whilst he plays with FCs in the park. Not that we need convincing, heads and hearts already firmly committed.

As we'll be staying over 1 night, who meets accommodation costs? Us, our LA, DC's LA? We went down recently (a few 100 miles drive) and our SW originally told us we'd go with them, then the day before said we should make our own way. So now I wonder who picks up the cost for accommodation when we go down for transition week too? Before I ask either / both SWs - thought I'd ask here.

Thanks so much for replies.

Hi, it's very exciting to hear your going for intros soon. I don't know if it's any help but we are in Scotland and currently at the start of our home visits. We have been asked to do an income and expenditure and our SW said that we will need to have savings because if we are matched with a little one a couple of hundred miles away we will need to fund travel and accommodation for at least a week. She said this is due to intros once a day for a week with DC's foster carer. If your in England it may be different. Hope this helps 😁

It's 5 years since I did intros so things may have changed. I got petrol costs and if I was having to stay over the LA would have paid up to the cost of a Travelodge room. I got nothing reimbursed for meetings, medical appointments or matching panel. Payment was from the placing LA.

Good luck - exciting times!

We only dealt with one LA and they paid for us to have a Travelodge for one night only (any more and we would have had to pay). Also claimed mileage back.

Hi,
From the day intros started I was give expenses. This covered mileage, lunch and parking.

We were told petrol costs would be covered for intros, along with hotel costs if we wanted to stay over (as we had to be at the foster carers at 6am each morning).
We decided to just drive as we have dogs, and it was easier to drive back and forth each day.
When it came to putting our petrol expenses in, however, we were then told we could only claim 13.7p a mile, BY THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO SAID WE COULD CLAIM IT ALL BACK, which ended up being HALF of what we'd spent on petrol! BUT, they still said if we'd got a hotel they'd have paid it?!
So they were happy to pay for a £100+ a night hotel, which would have been £400-600 for the week, but not pay our £80 petrol costs!?
It wasn't about the money, it was about the principle and how ridiculous that was, but in the end I couldn't be bothered to argue it and we got £40 back.....

So, whatever they tell you, get it in writing!!!!!!!!!

10+ years ago (oh how time flies) we were paid mileage, plus receipted settling in of up to £200(?) plus car seats each.

Again in Scotland we were given petrol, accommodation and settling in costs - our two were considered difficult to place, which opened up funding from the LA. This was agreed at matching panel.

We had to travel for DD2's intros. The placing LA sorted accommodation. We were supposedly able to claim mileage for all the meetings except Matching Panel, but this was rolled into a capped settling in grant, so in reality we had to choose what to claim for and what to write off. Think it was about £700 total, accommodation not withstanding.

That's really helpful, thanks all for your replies. I thought some elements were probably due to be paid back as expenses. I'll send the email now to the placing LA.

We had to stay away from home for 8 nights during intros.
They found us a holiday let and paid for it.
We had to pay fuel costs for all meetings 200 mike round trip each time.so swings and roundabouts really.