Foster Carer Fees

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Dear Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland),

I am writing to make a request for all the following information which I am entitled to under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 from the Health and Social Care Trust Adoption and Foster Carers Department.

This request focuses on foster carer fee payments (excluding foster care allowances) and the annual (or exceptional) fee rises that they have experienced in the last decade. I would like you to provide the details of the annual percentage fee rise for each foster carer grade (delineation or type of fee-paying placement) in your organisation between 2011-12 to 2021-22.

1. Please can you provide the date (month/ year) when the last review of foster carer fee rates took place.
2. Please can you provide the date (month/ year) when the last increase of foster carer fee rates took place.
3. Please can you provide the average increase that was applied when the last increase of foster carer fee rates took place.
4. Please can you outline the details of the fee increase (please provide a format like the table below) for each and all foster carer grades (fee variations) within your trust, providing details of the grade (annual fee), the percentage rise, and the date on which the fee increase was applied. If no annual fee increase was applied in a given year, please state this within the table.

Foster Carer Grade/ Foster Carer Annual Fee Grade/ Percentage Rise/ Date on which fee rise was applied/ Date increase was back date to if applicable
e.g. 2011-12 /6.5K 1% rise /Applied June 2021/ Back dated to April 2021

5. In accordance with UK Minimum Standard “22.3 The authority manages access by carers to reward payments through a clear well publicised system”. Please can you detail your publication of your reward payments (fee payments) system (e.g., web link, recent public communication, recent communication with all foster carers)
6. In accordance with UK Minimum Standard “22.4. Each carer receives clear information on any available reward payment scheme requirements of carers for development of skills and how to access increased payments.” Please can you provide a copy of the most recent communication your organisation sent to all foster carers advising them of your reward payment (fee payments) scheme.

I would like the above information to be provided to me as an electronic copy.

If the request is too broad or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand under the Act you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of the information is already in the public domain, please send it to me directly with page references or URLs when necessary.

If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12, please provide advice and assistance under the section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how we can refine the request.

I understand that you are required to respond to my request within 20 working days after receiving this request. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you soon,

Yours faithfully,

Naomi Hodges

Team, Foi, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Thank you for your email.

 

We acknowledge receipt of your request.

 

You will be aware of the significant pressures on our health and social
care services during the current surge of the Covid-19 pandemic. During
this time we have been asking our staff to prioritise their professional
caring duties and to support front line health and social care services in
responding to the emergency. This has understandably had an impact on
other duties within their role such as responding to legislative
requirements under FOI and the processing of Subject Access Requests. 

 

We assure you that your request will be logged and processed, and we will
do our utmost to respond as quickly as possible.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Information Governance Team

 

Team, Foi, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Dear Ms Hodges

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – INFORMATION REQUEST

We acknowledge your request which was received on 27th August 2022 requesting information held by the Trust.

Your request will be considered and you will receive our response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.

The reference number for your FOI request is FOI 1214.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please reply to this email.

Yours sincerely
Karen Harrison
Information Governance Officer

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Team, Foi, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

3 Attachments

Dear Ms Hodges

 

Please see attached response in respect of your recent Freedom of
Information request to the Southern Health & Social Care Trust.

 

Kind Regards

Karen Harrison

Information Governance Dept

Southern Health & Social Care Trust

 

 

Dear Team, Foi,
You advise that "Fee Paid schemes information is also available on the system (e.g., web link, Regional website www.adoptionandfostercarehscni.net)"
Please can you provide the direct link URL for information on foster carer fees.
Yours sincerely,

Naomi Hodges

Team, Foi, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Thank you for your email.

 

We acknowledge receipt of your request.

 

You will be aware of the significant pressures on our health and social
care services during the current surge of the Covid-19 pandemic. During
this time we have been asking our staff to prioritise their professional
caring duties and to support front line health and social care services in
responding to the emergency. This has understandably had an impact on
other duties within their role such as responding to legislative
requirements under FOI and the processing of Subject Access Requests. 

 

We assure you that your request will be logged and processed, and we will
do our utmost to respond as quickly as possible.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Information Governance Team

 

Team, Foi, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Dear Naomi

The correct web address is adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net

Click on foster care:
Types of foster care
Fostering Finance
Contact details to enquire further about specific fee paid schemes

Kind regards
Karen

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