PAYMENTS made to foster carers are set to increase by up to 100 per cent.
The council’s ruling cabinet will be asked to approve a payment scheme which reflects the skills and experience of carers and supports the fostering service to provide the numbers and placements required to meet the needs of local children and young people.
Every council and independent fostering agency makes its own arrangements for the payment of foster carers, and it is a competitive market to attract and retain carers.
‘Skills fees’ vary considerably, with some councils not offering any fees at all and some independent agencies offering very high levels for skilled and experienced carers.
Feedback from carers indicates that in Barnsley, the level one fee is too low to encourage new carers to take up fostering. They also stated the five level system is too complicated and doesn’t meet the current need.
As a result, the cabinet will be asked to increase the level one fee from £50 to £100 per week, and reduce the number of levels from five to three. It will also formalise age-related payments to ensure they reflect the skills needed to provide placements to older children.
Coun Margaret Bruff, cabinet spokesman, said: “We really need Barnsley carers for Barnsley children. Being able to continue living in the same town allows Barnsley’s children and young people in foster care to go to the same school and keep seeing their friends and family members. Currently, Barnsley Fostering Service has a significant gap in carers who can offer placements to older children.
“The increase in additional payments reflects the additional skills and experience required to care for older children and provides an incentive to encourage more carers to consider older children.”
