Classification: OFFICIAL

Dear Madam

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

Thank you for your information request dated 16 September 2022 and received on 20 September 2022. Our reference is FOI 2022-0808. This is being dealt with under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

We are considering your request. We may be in touch soon to ask for further clarification or to offer advice and assistance if we are not able to fulfil your request in its present form.

The legislation allows us up to 20 working days from the date that we receive a valid request, including any clarification we need to make a final response. We will be in touch within 20 working days of receipt of your initial request to provide our response or to seek clarification where necessary. We hope to give you the information you are looking for at an earlier date if possible.

Regards

Sarah Ratter
Administrative Officer
Strategy, Performance & Business Solutions Orkney Islands Council Council Offices School Place Kirkwall Orkney
KW15 1NY

Tel: (01856) 873535 Extn 2249

My hours of work are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 am to 5 pm

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Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Madam

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

I refer to your email dated 16 September 2022 and received on 20 September 2022, our reference is FOI 2022-0808.

I am pleased to give the information you requested and hope that it meets your requirements.

1. 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.

Child/ Young Person Age Rate of Maintenance Allowance

0-4 years £142.86
5-10 years £162.73
11-15 years £202.58
16+ years £246.44

2. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage.

Additional allowances that can be claimed or requested include:

• Birthday payments
• Christmas/religious festival payment
• Annual Holiday payment
• Child or young persons glasses/contact lenses. Prescription sport glasses/ other heath needs
• School uniform and meals grant
• Initial clothing payment
• Hospitality fees
• Expenses relating to training
• Reimbursement of loss of earnings
• Furniture or equipment expenses for new carers or following a change of terms of approval
• Training fees within Orkney
• Training Fees out with Orkney

3. 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.

These allowances are covered within the 16+ allowances.

Under FOISA, if you are dissatisfied with our response, you may ask the Council to review its handling of your request. If you wish to do this, you should make your request for review within 40 working days of receiving this email. Please make your request for review to Service Manager (Governance), Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY or email to [Orkney Islands Council request email]. Your request must be in permanent form (letter, email, audio tape etc) and should state:

That you are asking for a review of this decision, and
Why you are unhappy with the response you have received.

We will issue a full response to your request for review within 20 working days of our receiving it.

Where the outcome of the review fails to resolve the matter to your complete satisfaction, you then have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. You have six months in which to do so following receipt of our review outcome – see www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

Regards

Paul Kesterton
Information Governance Officer
Strategy, Performance & Business Solutions
Orkney Islands Council, Council Offices, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY
Telephone: 01856 873535 Extension: 2241
www.orkney.gov.uk

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