A Williams

[FOI #43178 email]

Ref No: 10067 - 1259658

25/08/10

Dear A Williams

Thank you for your recent request for information held by Somerset County Council under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Is the £50 paid to foster parents on completion of the induction course a 'one off payment' or a weekly payment?

Yes Foster Carers receive a one off payment of £50.00 for completion of the standards.

What is a 'fixed amount per residence' of £10, 000 year?

How much of it consists of foster parent 'pay' (different councils use different aliases).

The £10,000 fixed amount per residence, refers to the fixed annual tax exemption amount for foster carer's. There are also further allowances relating to child placements ranging from £200 to £250 per week per child depending on the age of the child, and an allowance for the placement of a parent of £250. These weekly tax allowances are added to the basic £10,000 tax exemption allowance.

At what 'level' do foster parents receive £200 and £300 pay/child?

We do not offer a £300.00 per week fee but carers who receive the £200.00 per week fee are on our specialist Home Based Care and Parent and Child Schemes.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to:

Corporate Information Governance Manager, Peter Grogan at [email address] . If you are still not satisfied, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, details at www.ico.gov.uk

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,

CYPD/FOI Representative

Somerset County Council

Taunton TA1 4DY

educ[Somerset County Council request email]