Fees for foster carers looking after teenagers to be increased
Last updated | 06/01/2012
A report to the next Lifelong Learning Committee on 11th January 2012 is recommending changes to the fees paid to foster carers for young people aged 12 and over, in an effort to ensure carers for teenagers can be recruited and retained.
Foster carers receive an allowance depending on the age of the child or children they care for, and a skills-based fee assessed on three levels. Currently there are 56 foster carers registered in Perth and Kinross, with a further 12 prospective carers; the highest level the area has ever had.
On this positive basis, the Council is now focussing its efforts on carers who would like to foster permanently or look after teenagers who would otherwise go into residential accommodation. As a result, the proposal going before Councillors is to create a fourth fee level, to specifically address the need for carers for young people over 12. This new arrangement would replace the current Care 4 scheme.
Alongside this, the Committee will also be asked to approve the annual increase of 2.3% in carers' fees and allowances, in line with national recommendations from the Fostering Network.
Lifelong Learning Convener, Councillor Liz Grant welcomed the proposal: "It is excellent that we go into 2012 with a significant number of foster carers registered with the Council, and the potential for that group to increase further. Fostering can make all the difference to the life of a child or young person and we want to continue to encourage prospective foster carers to come forward, especially those willing to look after young people over the age of 12. The proposed new fee level is intended to help with this, and to reward current carers who foster young people with difficult and challenging backgrounds."
