Foster care allowances 2023/24

The Fostering Network made this Freedom of Information request to Swindon Borough 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 Swindon Borough 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

Customer Services, Swindon Borough Council

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Swindon Borough Council

[1]Swindon Borough Council
Dear Sammy Matthews,

Case reference number: FOI005915

Thank you for your request. The Freedom of Information Act creates two
general rights in relation to information:

 1. The right to be told whether or not the information requested is
held
 2. The right to be given that information within 20 working days

We aim to respond to your request within 20 working days.

Kind regards, 

Freedom of Information Representative
Children's Services, Education, Schools and Learning 

Swindon Borough Council

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Tina Wells, Swindon Borough Council

4 Attachments

Dear Sammy,

 

Re: FOI005915 Freedom of Information Request

 

I acknowledge the receipt of your request on 12^th April 2023. 

 

The Council has a duty to respond ‘promptly’, or no later than 20 working
days which in this case is 14^th May 2023.

Apologies for the delay

 

Please find below the response to the following questions;

 

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.

 

Basic Fostering Allowances (per week)

• 0-4 years = £164.00
• 5-10 years = £176.00
• 11-15 years = £253.00
• 16+ years = £268.00

 

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.

 

• Birthday Allowance = 1 additional weeks basic fostering allowance
based on rates above and dependent on the child/young person's age on
their birthday, paid annually.
• Religious Festival Allowance = 1 additional weeks fostering allowance
based on rates above, paid annually.
• Holiday Allowance = Foster Carers can claim up to 2 weeks basic
fostering allowance, based on rates above, paid annually.
• Mileage Allowances = 40 pence per mile when travelled over 100 miles
per week for the child/young person, claim as and when required.
• School Prom = £100 one-off payment can be claimed by the foster carers
for the young person to be used towards clothing for attending their
prom
• Emergency Clothing Allowances = can be claimed by the foster carer for
any child/young person coming into care with less than the minimum
amount of clothing up to -
• 0-4 years = £200.00
• 5-10 years = £220.00
• 11-15 years = £260.00
• 16-17 years = £330.00
• School Uniform Allowances - can be claimed by the foster carer for a
child/young person up to -
• Starting or changing primary school = £130.00
• On starting secondary school = £300.00
• On changing secondary school = £250.00
• On starting work/college = £300.00

 

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

 

None, unless a specific agreement is made dependent on circumstances.  Our
allowance for nappy's is £9 per week and included in the 0-5 years basic
allowance but for example that can be continued past 5 years if required.

 

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

 

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

• Skill Level 1 = £108.00 per week per child
• Skill Level 2 = £130.00 per week per child
• Skill Level 3 = £185.00 per week per child

 

 

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

• Skill Level 1 = 11 mainstream foster carers
• Skill Level 2 = 5 mainstream foster carers
• Skill Level 3 = 29 mainstream foster carers

 

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. Paid the same as the
mainstream foster carers 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. Paid the same as the mainstream
foster carers 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. Paid the same as the mainstream foster carers 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.

• Skill Level 1 = 13 connected carers
• Skill Level 2 = 2 connected carers
• Skill Level 3 = 0 connected carers

 

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. These payments are made to cover each
fortnight, so weekly breakdown would be half what is stated accordingly.
£2,610.22 across 13 connected carers

 

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your
request and wish to make a review you should contact:

 

Customer Services

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Euclid Street

Swindon

SN1 2JH

 

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Governance Manager. 

[1]mailto:[email address]

 

You can also use our on-line form:
[2]https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20159/ma...

 

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you have exhausted the Council's own complaints procedure.

 

The Information Officer can be contacted at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office,

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

If you require any further information concerning this matter please
contact me quoting the reference number at the top of the letter.

 

Yours sincerely

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

 

My working day may not be your working day. Please do not feel obliged to
reply to this email outside of your normal working hours.

 

Tina Wells
Leadership Support Team Leader, PA to The Leader

 

Customer Service

Swindon Borough Council

 

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