Special guardianship financial support and assessment.

The request was successful.

Dear Norfolk County Council,

Can you please provide me with the following information regarding
Special guardianship financial support and assessment.

1) Does the council follow the DfE method
of assessing Special guardianship allowance. If not please provide
infomation as to the method used.

2) What is the maximum payment for a child.

a) Pre school age
b) Primary school age
c) Secondary school age
d) Over 16

3) Is the maximum payment based on recommended core foster care
rates. If not what is the maximum payment based on.

4) Does special guardianship rise each year in line with the
increase in core fostering rates.

5) Is the financial assessment where children were previously LAC
different to the financial assessment for children who were not
LAC.

6) What deducations, if any, are made from Special guardianship
allowance, ie, Child benefit, Child tax credit.

7) If a carer is in receipt of Income support are any deductions
made from Special Guardianship allowance, ie, Child Benefit, Child
tax credit

8) Are Special guardianship allowances time limited. If so how long for.

Yours faithfully,

Cassie Felton

Information Management, Norfolk County Council

Good Morning,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Information Request ENQ-236563-V8G2F3

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 received on 14 June 2018.

Lewis Freeman will be dealing with your request.

We have up to 20 days in which to deal with your request. If we require clarification regarding your request, we will contact you to explain this. The 20 working day period will then start from the day that we receive your clarification.

You will also be informed in advance if there is a charge for supplying copies of the information.

Please also be aware that, if the requested information contains references to any third parties, we may need to consult these individuals about the release of their personal data before making a decision whether or not to release the information to you.

We will also provide an explanation if any information is not released to you.

Should you have any queries regarding your request, please contact the team by email [email address] or by telephone 01603 222661.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Cooper
Business Support Assistant (Compliance Team)
Information Management and Technology
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH

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Information Management, Norfolk County Council

Dear Cassie

Freedom of Information Act 2000 –Information Request ENQ-236563-V8G2F3

I refer to your request for information dated 14 June 2018.

1) Does the council follow the DfE method of assessing Special guardianship allowance. If not please provide infomation as to the method used.

Yes

2) What is the maximum payment for a child.

a) Pre school age
b) Primary school age
c) Secondary school age
d) Over 16

0-4 £130
5-10 £143
11-15 £164
16-17 £191

3) Is the maximum payment based on recommended core foster care rates. If not what is the maximum payment based on.

Yes

4) Does special guardianship rise each year in line with the increase in core fostering rates.

Yes

5) Is the financial assessment where children were previously LAC different to the financial assessment for children who were not LAC.

The LAC status does not determine funding for Special Guardianship, as the majority of children are LAC prior to the Special Guardianship Order being granted. A higher level of allowance can be agreed at Locality Panel prior to the Support Plan being lodged at the Court, but the majority of families receive funding equivalent to Level 2 fostering allowance. However, There is a 'no detriment' offer to Foster Carers in Norfolk who choose Special Guardianship for those children that they foster, which is the equivalent to those fostering payments the Foster Carer would have received for the child, up until they are eighteen. This is to encourage a higher level of permanence for the children in foster care.

6) What deducations, if any, are made from Special guardianship allowance, ie, Child benefit, Child tax credit.

Child Benefit & Means Test

7) If a carer is in receipt of Income support are any deductions made from Special Guardianship allowance, ie, Child Benefit, Child tax credit

No

8) Are Special guardianship allowances time limited. If so how long for.

Upon the making of a Special Guardianship Order Norfolk County Council will pay a Special Guardianship Allowance, if this is approved by the Locality Panel. These payments may be made for up to two years / other duration (as agreed by Panel - NB payments may be made up to the child’s 18th birthday in exceptional circumstances only). These payments are discretionary and as such these payments are subject to annual review. There is also the offer of a Post Order Needs Assessment which can be offered to Special Guardians, to look at emerging needs of the children and to consider whether additional funding is required.

If you are dissatisfied with our handling of your request you have the right of appeal through the Council’s internal review procedure by setting out the grounds of your appeal in writing to:

[email address]
or Information Compliance Team
Room B18
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH

An appeal should be submitted within 40 working days of the date of this notice and should be identified as "FOI Appeal".

If you are dissatisfied after pursuing the complaints procedure, you may apply to the Information Commissioner under Section 50 of the Act for a decision whether your request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of Part I of the Act. Refer to the ICO Website at: https://ico.org.uk/concerns/ for advice on how to report a concern. Or you can write to them at:

First Contact Team
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane, Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Lewis Freeman
Information Compliance Officer
Information Management Service
Norfolk County Council
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH

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Information Management, Norfolk County Council

Dear Cassie

It has come to our attention that the response given to question 7 was incorrect. The answer should have been:

7) If a carer is in receipt of Income support are any deductions made from Special Guardianship allowance, ie, Child Benefit, Child tax credit

Yes, Child Benefit

Please accept our apologies for this error.

Kind regards

Lesley Spicer, Information Compliance Manager
Information Management Service
Norfolk County Council
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH

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