Foster Care allowances

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The Fostering Network

Dear St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council,
Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly foster care allowances for all age
bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.
Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their
weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage.
Please could you tell me your 2022-23 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.

Yours faithfully,

The Fostering Network

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Form Submission

Hello none none,

We have now received your General Customer Services - Customer Services
report (reference: 9897-3463-7888-0396) and it has been assigned to our
staff to review. You can follow progress of this by using the below link
to access details of the case.

[1]My case

Many thanks

St Helens Borough Council

References

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1. https://citizen.sthel1-prd.gosshosted.co...

Fiona Woods, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

1 Attachment

Helo
Thank you for your recent request regarding our fostering allowances and
payments made under Staying Put. Please note that the policy's for 2022/3
are currently under review.
There are currently 4 age related levels of payment made to foster carers
paid at a basic rate, then level 1-3. However, the basic rate is no longer
applicable as we pay all foster carer a minimum of £250 per week. For
those foster carers at level one they will receive the age related
allowance plus a professional fee of £75 per week, or £250, at level two
the age related allowance plus a professional fee of £150 and at level
three the age related allowance plus a professional fee £250. Please see
table below.
Birthday allowance and religious festivals are paid comprising of one week
at the age related allowance.
Child specific payments are made for those children assessed as having
more complex needs of up to an additional £400 per week. This amount is
reviewed annually within the annual review.
School holidays and trips are expected to be meet through the child's
allowance but were these are linked to the curriculum then an contribution
of £300 for a primary school child or £500 for a young person attending
secondary education can be made.
Initial clothing or school uniform allowances are available of £100. For
those young people entering apprenticeships or training schemes there is
no fixed allowance and this is determined by the requirements of the young
person/their provider.
Mileage incurred is paid at the same casual rate paid to employees of the
Council which is currently 52p per mile.
Child care and nursery fees can be made in exceptional circumstances or
when it has been identified that the needs of the child require their
attendance. In these circumstances reimbursement is made as a child
specific payment and agreed by the Agency Decision Maker.
Basic equipment is provided to foster carers at the start of placement and
includes items such as bedding, beds, furniture, chests of drawers,
pushchairs, high chairs, car seats etc.
In exceptional circumstances support may be offered with accommodation in
those instances whereby the foster carer cannot meet the needs of a child
in placement or whereby they could offer a placement to another child. 

              Foster Care Fee and Allowance Table 

 

  Age O - 4  Age 5 -10  Age 11 -15  Age 16+ 
Basic Level  £250 £250  £250  £520 
Level1  £250  £250  £255  £295 
Level2  £285  £300  £330  £370 
Level3  £385  £400  £430  £520 

I hope this addresses your queries.
Kind regards Fiona
Fiona Woods
Head of Fostering Adoption and Provider Services
Children's Services
Atlas House
Corporation Street
St Helens
WA9 1LD
01744 676410
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St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

Form Submission

Hello none none,

Thank you for submitting your report to us and we can now advise that your
case has now been closed as it has now been: Closed by system

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Many thanks

St Helens Borough Council

References

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1. https://applications02.sthelens.gov.uk/C...