Fostering Allowances 2023/24

The Fostering Network made this Freedom of Information request to Dudley Council Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was successful.

The Fostering Network

Dear Dudley Council,

We are seeking to understand the way in which your foster carers are being paid in your service. The department which would know this information would be within social services in your fostering team.

The information we require is:

For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with additional support needs or disabilities.

Your current fee/reward structure for mainstream foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.

ii) The number of mainstream foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

For your kinship foster carer population (connected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in kinship foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

Your current fee/reward structure for kinship foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.

ii) The number of kinship foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

Your 2023-24 weekly allowances for former foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

Your 2023-24 weekly fee payments for former foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

Yours faithfully,
Sammy Matthews
The Fostering Network

Dudley Triggers, Dudley Council

Dear Sammy Matthews,

Information Access Request - Information Request DMBCIR:31246
Description : Fostering Allowances 2023/24

I acknowledge your request for information received on 2023-04-13
12:00:00.

Your request is being considered and you will receive the information
requested within the statutory timescale of 20 working days (Freedom of
Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations) or 1 month
from receipt (Data Protection access requests).

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exemptions which may prevent release of the information you have
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If you have any queries or concerns then please contact the Information
Governance Officer at Dudley MBC, The Council House, Dudley, West
Midlands, DY1 1HF, telephone 0300 555 8283, e-mail
[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email] .

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

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of
Information/Environmental Information requests will be subject to
copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Dudley
MBC. The copyright in other information may be owned by another person or
organisation, as indicated in the information itself. You are free to use
any information supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial
research purposes. The information may also be used for the purposes of
news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by
publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require
the permission of the copyright owner.

For information where the copyright is owned by the Council details of the
conditions on re-use can be found on our website at www.dudley.gov.uk.

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organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their
permission.

Yours sincerely,

The Information Governance Team
Council House
Priory Road
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 1HF
[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]

Information Governance, Dudley Council

2 Attachments

Hi Press

 

Is the below okay to go please?

 

  [2]Residents

Corporate Information Governance Team

3/5 St James’s Road, Dudley West Midlands. DY1 1HP

Tel: (01384) 815607 Fax: (01384) 815660

Email:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]

[1]www.dudley.gov.uk

 
Our ref: 31246 Direct Line: 01384 86956 Date: 15/05/2023

 

 

Dear ,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Information Request 31246

 

I acknowledge your request for information received on 14/04/2023. In
accordance with Section 1 (1), (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000,
I can confirm that we hold the information requested. Our response is as
follows.

 

Your Request and Our Response

 

For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers)
the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age
bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

 

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream
foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious
festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the
frequency foster carers can receive these.

 

Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with
additional support needs or disabilities

 

For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers)
the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age
bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

 

Age of Child Annual Amount £
0 - 4 160.84
5 - 10 183.19
11 - 15 228.04
16 - 18 277.42

 

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream
foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious
festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the
frequency foster carers can receive these.
Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with
additional support needs or disabilities.

 

All children receive holiday, birthday and festival allowance – these are
paid annually and the amount is dependent upon child’s age. Current rates
listed below.

 

Holiday Allowance

 

Age of Child Annual Amount £
0 - 4 321.68
5 - 10 366.38
11 - 15 456.08
16 - 18 554.84

 

Birthday and Festivity Grants

 

Age of Child Amount £
0 - 4 160.84
5 - 10 183.19
11 - 15 228.04
16 - 18 277.42

 

Your current fee/reward structure for mainstream foster carers (NB this is
different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at
each level/band.

The fee is dependent on the age of the child. We do not have levels as
such but we do have some carers on an enhanced fee.

 

The fees (not allowances) are in the table below.

 

Age of Child Amount £
0 - 4 101.50
5 - 10 115.76
11 - 15 144.06
16 - 18 175.09
Enhanced 498.63

 

ii) The number of mainstream foster carers on each level/band, including
those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

 

61 foster households receive the normal level

13 fostering households receive enhanced.

For your kinship foster carer population (connected carers) the basic
weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT
including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

These are exactly the same as for the mainstream foster carers – see
answer given above.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in kinship
foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious
festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the
frequency foster carers can receive these.

 

This is the same as for the children with mainstream foster carers – see
answer given above.

Your current fee/reward structure for kinship foster carers (NB this is
different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at
each level/band.
This is the same as for mainstream carers – see answer above.

ii) The number of kinship foster carers on each level/band, including
those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

 

67 on standard fees

2 on enhanced

Your 2023-24 weekly allowances for former foster carers looking after
young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year
2, and year 3 if necessary.

We do not pay different rates in years 1, 2 and 3. However, we pay a
reduced amount if a young person is able to claim housing benefit.

Amounts are £199.00 per week, or a reduced amount (after housing benefit)
of £140.00 per week.

 

Your 2023-24 weekly fee payments for former foster carers looking after
young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year
2, and year 3 if necessary.

 

We do not pay a fee for Staying Put.

 

If this does not answer your question, then you may submit a further
request; it would be helpful if you could refine your request so that we
can advise what may be provided under the Freedom of Information Act and
any cost implications.

 

If you do have difficulty in accessing the information please contact
Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345 who will be able to assist you.

 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a comment or complaint, or request a review of
the decision, you should write to the Freedom of Information Officer at
Dudley MBC, The Council House, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1HF, telephone
0300 555 2345, e-mail [3][Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]. 

 

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

 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by Dudley MBC.

 

The Information Commissioner may be contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF

Telephone:   0303 123 1113

[4]www.ico.org.uk

 

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of
Information Act 2000 requests will be subject to copyright protection.  In
most cases the copyright will be owned by Dudley MBC.  The copyright in
other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as
indicated in the information itself.  You are free to use any information
supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial research
purposes.  The information may also be used for the purposes of news
reporting.  However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing
the information or issuing copies to the public will require the
permission of the copyright owner.

 

For information where the copyright is owned by the Council details of
the conditions on re-use can be found on our website at
[5]www.dudley.gov.uk.

 

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or
organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their
permission.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Raj Singh
Information Governance Officer

Corporate Information Governance
Finance & Legal
Dudley Council 
3-5 St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 1HZ
01384 816956
[6]www.dudley.gov.uk

 

This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is
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Please consider the environment - do you need to print this e-mail?

References

Visible links
1. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/
5. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
6. Open Dudley MBC website
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/

Information Governance, Dudley Council

3 Attachments

  [2]Residents

 

Corporate Information Governance Team

3/5 St James’s Road, Dudley West Midlands. DY1 1HP

Tel: (01384) 815607 Fax: (01384) 815660

Email:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]

[1]www.dudley.gov.uk

 
Our ref: 31246 Direct Line: 01384 86956 Date: 15/05/2023

 

 

Dear Sammy Matthews

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Information Request 31246

 

I acknowledge your request for information received on 14/04/2023. In
accordance with Section 1 (1), (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000,
I can confirm that we hold the information requested. Please accept my
apologies and disregard the earlier response to you which was a draft. All
press/media requests are sent to our Press Office for them to maintain a
copy of the response. Our response is as follows.

 

Your Request and Our Response

 

For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers)
the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age
bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

 

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream
foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious
festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the
frequency foster carers can receive these.

 

Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with
additional support needs or disabilities

 

For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers)
the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age
bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

 

Age of Child Annual Amount £
0 - 4 160.84
5 - 10 183.19
11 - 15 228.04
16 - 18 277.42

 

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream
foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious
festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the
frequency foster carers can receive these.
Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with
additional support needs or disabilities.

 

All children receive holiday, birthday and festival allowance – these are
paid annually and the amount is dependent upon child’s age. Current rates
listed below.

 

Holiday Allowance

 

Age of Child Annual Amount £
0 - 4 321.68
5 - 10 366.38
11 - 15 456.08
16 - 18 554.84

 

Birthday and Festivity Grants

 

Age of Child Amount £
0 - 4 160.84
5 - 10 183.19
11 - 15 228.04
16 - 18 277.42

 

Your current fee/reward structure for mainstream foster carers (NB this is
different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at
each level/band.

The fee is dependent on the age of the child. We do not have levels as
such but we do have some carers on an enhanced fee.

 

The fees (not allowances) are in the table below.

 

Age of Child Amount £
0 - 4 101.50
5 - 10 115.76
11 - 15 144.06
16 - 18 175.09
Enhanced 498.63

 

ii) The number of mainstream foster carers on each level/band, including
those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

 

61 foster households receive the normal level

13 fostering households receive enhanced.

For your kinship foster carer population (connected carers) the basic
weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT
including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

These are exactly the same as for the mainstream foster carers – see
answer given above.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in kinship
foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious
festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the
frequency foster carers can receive these.

 

This is the same as for the children with mainstream foster carers – see
answer given above.

Your current fee/reward structure for kinship foster carers (NB this is
different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at
each level/band.
This is the same as for mainstream carers – see answer above.

ii) The number of kinship foster carers on each level/band, including
those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

 

67 on standard fees

2 on enhanced

Your 2023-24 weekly allowances for former foster carers looking after
young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year
2, and year 3 if necessary.

We do not pay different rates in years 1, 2 and 3. However, we pay a
reduced amount if a young person is able to claim housing benefit.

Amounts are £199.00 per week, or a reduced amount (after housing benefit)
of £140.00 per week.

 

Your 2023-24 weekly fee payments for former foster carers looking after
young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year
2, and year 3 if necessary.

 

We do not pay a fee for Staying Put.

 

If this does not answer your question, then you may submit a further
request; it would be helpful if you could refine your request so that we
can advise what may be provided under the Freedom of Information Act and
any cost implications.

 

If you do have difficulty in accessing the information please contact
Dudley Council Plus on 0300 555 2345 who will be able to assist you.

 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a comment or complaint, or request a review of
the decision, you should write to the Freedom of Information Officer at
Dudley MBC, The Council House, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1HF, telephone
0300 555 2345, e-mail [3][Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]. 

 

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

 

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  Generally, the
ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by Dudley MBC.

 

The Information Commissioner may be contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF

Telephone:   0303 123 1113

[4]www.ico.org.uk

 

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of
Information Act 2000 requests will be subject to copyright protection.  In
most cases the copyright will be owned by Dudley MBC.  The copyright in
other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as
indicated in the information itself.  You are free to use any information
supplied for your own use, including for non-commercial research
purposes.  The information may also be used for the purposes of news
reporting.  However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing
the information or issuing copies to the public will require the
permission of the copyright owner.

 

For information where the copyright is owned by the Council details of
the conditions on re-use can be found on our website at
[5]www.dudley.gov.uk.

 

For information where the copyright is owned by another person or
organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their
permission.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Best Regards,

Raj Singh
Information Governance Officer

Corporate Information Governance
Finance & Legal
Dudley Council 
3-5 St James's Road, Dudley, DY1 1HZ
01384 816956
[6]www.dudley.gov.uk

 

This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is
intended solely for the individual to whom it is addressed. If this Email
has been misdirected, please notify the author as soon as possible. If
this email has a protective marking of OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT or
RESTRICTED in its title or contents, the information within must be
subject to appropriate safeguards to protect against unauthorised or
unlawful processing and against accidental loss or destruction or damage.
OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE, PROTECT and RESTRICTED information should only be
further shared where there is a legitimate need. If you are not the
intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely
on any of the information contained, and all copies must be deleted
immediately. Whilst we take reasonable steps to try to identify any
software viruses, any attachments to this e-mail may nevertheless contain
viruses which our anti- virus software has failed to identify. You should
therefore carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any
documents. The author will not accept any liability for damage caused by
computer viruses emanating from any attachment or other document supplied
with this e-mail.

Please consider the environment - do you need to print this e-mail?

References

Visible links
1. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
3. mailto:[Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council request email]
4. http://www.ico.org.uk/
5. http://www.dudley.gov.uk/
6. Open Dudley MBC website
https://www.dudley.gov.uk/