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Fostering

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Original poster

Reduction in funding for social care

15 replies

bottersnike · 11/11/2010 18:08

Are there any foster carers out there who are concerned what is going to happen to funding for foster carers over the next couple of years?
We are just starting the process of becoming foster carers, and I had hoped to give up my job and be a full-time carer, but if councils are forced to follow Slough's example that may not be possible.
When do you think we will know more?

OP posts:

maypole1 · 11/11/2010 19:16

well we have just got a raisenot much but in the current climet, so i guess all councils have different priorities so don't be to worried

nobody's telling any councils what to cut just they have to cut some LA are cutting their arts budget some their sports so don't be to worried and to be honest slough will rue the day most of the carers will leave forcing them to use agencies wich cost triple as they have to place removed children as i don't think any other LA will be keen to take on slough children as they have enough of their own

p99gmb · 12/11/2010 21:03

we were told by our social worker - we are with the LA, that they have been told to re-home any child that is with an 'external' fostering agency purely to save money!!! They are doing a massive recruitment drive to get more carers onboard so that they don't have to use external agencies... thankfully, we decided to go with the LA!!!

If I was beginning the process and was going to an external agency, I would be worried.

I feel for the poor kids that are probably well settled and being moved purely for financial reasons

fostering · 26/01/2011 21:11

IFA's have strong legal teams that will fight to keep LO that are settled with IFA carers. Stabilty in placement is very important and there is always such a shortage of carers that I doubt many children will be moved back to LA.

CarGirl · 26/01/2011 21:15

My friend keeps being pressurised to take on special guardianship of her foster dc - errr why on earth would she, the only benefit would be to save the LEA money!

fostering · 26/01/2011 21:22

CarGirl - true but it provides the children with security, knowing that they are with the foster carers for good.

Also, if your friend has bonded with the children, it will give her the peace of mind that the children won't suddenly be moved by the LA

CarGirl · 26/01/2011 21:45

They are the dc long term foster parents, until they leave the care system.....dc have contact with parents but neither will be allowed to have them back.

fostering · 26/01/2011 22:47

You are right then. LA are probably trying to save money, and they will also pass on parental responsibilty to the foster carers so when they are teenagers and kicking off the foster carers will not get the much needed support they deserve.

CarGirl · 26/01/2011 22:57

exactly. Friend has is financially comfortable but she has still had to give up her paid work to look after them, constant meetings, reviews, an elderly mother etc etc etc

SquidgyBrain · 27/01/2011 19:54

our LA are reviewing the way we are paid - it makes sense as at the moment they are spending a lot of money on paying carer that don't have placements. - the changes are fair and make sense, but it does make me feel vulnerable as they do make it more financially viable for the LA to use carers with multiple places available rather than us who only have one placement.

maypole1 · 27/01/2011 20:01

We actually had a pay rise

fostering · 28/01/2011 20:26

The government started setting out minimum
fostering alowances in 2006 and the rates for 2010/11, 11/12 and 12/13 are now available, just google.

But the allowances are set to cover only the child's costs, some LA's also pay a fostering allowance.

It's difficult to know whether LA's should pay a retainer for "empty" places as this could be a huge cost but as there is such a shortage of carers there shouldn't be LA placements not full really.

fairtradefloozy · 04/02/2011 20:09

LAs will do all they can to avoid making changes that will upset the applecart. I mean, if they chopped rates and loads of carers were forced to give up, what would they do with the kids? If they are with an LA who doesn't pay fees, it would cost ££££ more to re-home them all with agencies.
I am sure there will be changes, but I think some LAs will bust a gut not to have to.

fishtankneedscleaning · 05/02/2011 00:31

As an agency carer I have a long term placement. At 5 years old he has broken down 13 LA foster placements. He is a delightful child, that needs consistent rules and boundaries (and a lot more patience and understanding of his needs than most children of his tender age) - He is considered to be "unadoptable" by LA.

He has settled well within our family unit, though is reluctant to give our 9 year old daughter house room - something that he is learning that he has no choice than to consider he is not the b all and end all.

He has an attachment disorder (from a history of neglect and abuse) but still needs to learn that his carers can love more than one person, unconditionally.

He is hard work but we would not be without him. The progress he is making is reward in itself. This is what makes fostering so worthwhile.

I gave up a teaching career to foster and so I rely on the fostering fee (which is akin to LA fostering allowances and fees, no matter what you read on MN).

As long as there are vulnerable children whose complex needs are being met by their foster carers (whether LA or Agency) I do not foresee a problem with funding.

After all isn't the needs of the child the LA's paramount consideration?? ;)

peppapigbutty · 12/02/2011 21:41

My LA pays the same as Fostering Agencies (£275 per week). Probably more because I get paid two weeks allowance for holidays, Christmas and Birthday. My friend, who is foster carer with agency does not receive birthday or holiday allowance and gets only £50 Christmas allowance.

I would not like to see any child removed from his or her long term placement based purely on financial reasons. My friend has a child aged 11 in placement that I could not cope with as I have other children in placement and would not be able to give him the attention he needs. He is a very damaged little boy and in my opinion needs the best care possible. That is not to say LA carers cannot give him the best just that LA carers usually have more than one child placed. This child could not cope with competing for attention. He goes into complete meltdown when he visits my home - 2 placements plus 2 own children.

fostering · 13/02/2011 20:54

If carers are fostering for the children then more children could be helped if everyone fostered for LA's. Nearly every IFA makes a profit from the scarce funds available from LA budgets.

Some LA's will pay their own carers a premium to look after "difficult to place" children - ask your supporting SW. They may also make up the shortfall of an empty place if a child needs to be placed on their own.

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