Purpose

To seek
approval to make the following changes to the allowances that
foster carers and others receive:

·    
to increase allowances in line with the NMA for
fostering (including family & friends), Special Guardianship
Orders and Child Arrangement Orders.

·    
Increase adoption allowance, respite, and day care
rates to the revised basic pay element.

·    
Fostering Skills payments to be increased by the
6.88%.

·    
That any changes are implemented from or back dated
to 1st April 2024
 

Decision

ROTHERHAM METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF OFFICER EXECUTIVE DECISION

 

Date of Decision:

26 March 2024
 

Title:

Increase in Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate
2024-25
 

Decision Maker:
(Including Job
Title)

Nicola Curley – Strategic
Director, Children & Young Peoples Service
 

Details of Specific Cabinet
Delegation
or Delegation contained in the
relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.
 

Increase in Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate
2024-25
 
Recommendations:
 
That
approval be given to make the following changes to the allowances
that foster carers and others receive:

·    
to increase allowances in line with the NMA for
fostering (including family & friends), Special Guardianship
Orders and Child Arrangement Orders.

·    
Increase adoption allowance, respite, and day care
rates to the revised basic pay element.

·    
Fostering Skills payments to be increased by the
6.88%.

·    
That any changes are implemented from or back dated
to 1st April 2024
 

Decision:

 

1.  
That the fostering maintenance allowances are
increased on average by 6.88% in line with the NMA rates per age
band for 2024/25.

 

2. That Foster Carer Skills payments are increased
in line with the NMA uplift of 6.88% in-line with the
Cabinet’s approval in October 2022.
 

Reasons for the
Decision:

The
Government sets a National Minimum Allowance (NMA) for weekly child
maintenance fostering rates based on age bands, which are increased
annually in line with inflation. The 2024/25 national increase has
been set at 6.88% (the increase in 2023/24 was 12.43%).
 
This report considers the financial impact and options of
increasing Fostering, Special Guardianship Orders (SGO), Child
Arrangement Orders (CAO), Adoption Allowance (AA), respite, day
care, and Fostering Skills payments in line with the
government’s recommended minimum uplift of 6.88%.
 

Details of alternative
options considered and rejected:

Option 2 – not recommended

·    
do not apply an uplift to fostering allowances
– with the increased risk of legal challenge.

·    
do not apply the 6.88% NMA uplift to the fostering
skills payment – however this would go against the improved
foster carer financial offer approved by Cabinet (In October
2022).
 

Conflicts of interest
declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker
which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations
Granted:
(If any)

None

Reports or parts of
reports considered
 

DLT Report -
Increase in Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate
2024-25 (26 March 2024)
 
Report Author:
Joshua Amahwe – Head of Finance - CYPS

 
 
I certify that this is a true
record of the executive decision to approve the increase in
Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate and the impact
on RMBC rates.
 
 
Signed by the Decision Maker  
Dated:         
16th May 2024

 
 
Name:         
Nicola Curley                              
Job
Title:    Strategic Director,
Children & Young Peoples Service