Fostering Allowances 2023/24

The Fostering Network made this Freedom of Information request to Tower Hamlets 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 Tower Hamlets 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

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Borough Council

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information request
Our reference: 42856639

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Dear Sammy Matthews
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 11 April
2023  requesting:

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.
 
We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000  and we aim to send a response by 11 May 2023.
 
In some case, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we will
send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.
 
The Freedom of Information Act 2000  may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions  apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and
to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
 
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
 
Yours faithfully
 
 
Robi Rajib
Information Governance Officer
Information Governance

 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets Borough Council

2 Attachments

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information request
Our reference: 42856639

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Dear Sammy Matthews
Your request for information has been considered under the requirements of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I can confirm that the information requested is held by Tower Hamlets
Council and is attached to this email. 

The information has also been put on the [1]Council's Disclosure Log,
where you can also search for information supplied on other topics.

The Council's website www.towerhamlets.gov.uk contains a section on the
Freedom of Information Act that lists other publications readily available
from the Council under its Publication Scheme.

Conditions for the re-use of information where the copyright is owned by
the London Borough of Tower Hamlets can be found on our website.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
original letter and should be addressed to:
 
Complaints and Information
Tower Hamlets Town Hall
160 Whitechapel Road
London
E1 1BJ
[email address
 
If you are still dissatisfied with the Council's response after the
internal review you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner
at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Telephone: 01625 545 700
Website: www.ico.gov.uk 
 

Yours faithfully
 
 
Jane Jones
Information Governance Officer
Legal Services
020 7364 2197
[email address]
 
 

References

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1. https://towerhamletsportal.icasework.com...