Content

11.1

As part of our sufficiency strategy, Sheffield
City Council are committed to expanding our in-house fostering
service whilst continuing to work in partnership with the
independent fostering sector. To be able to operate competitively
Sheffield City Council need be able to pay allowances in
recognition of the need to recruit and retain experienced carers
able to commit to the varied challenges of the fostering task. The
fostering payment scheme is a reflection of the real need within
Sheffield City Council to retain skilled and experienced carers and
reward carers for their loyalty and commitment.

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children
and Families Policy Committee:-
 

1.    
agrees the Policy on payments for Foster
Carers;
 

2.    
approves the variation of payments as proposed; and
 

3.    
requests that additional allowances for culturally
appropriate products be reviewed.

 

 

11.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.3.1

The Placement Sufficiency Strategy for
Children Looked After (CLA) and Care Leavers 2023 – 2026 will
ensure the Council has set out its commitment in line with its duty
to ensure that there is a range of sufficient placements which meet
the needs of children and young people in care.
 
Reviewing the foster carer payments is a key
part of this strategy to ensure that we maximise family based care
for children in Sheffield.

 

 

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Do nothing
Our current pay for foster carers puts us as
competitive against our regional neighbours. However:

·      
Foster cares feel undervalued by the Local Authority and
resign.

·      
Negotiation regarding fostering allowances take place on an annual
basis – leading to confusion and dissatisfaction.

·      
Our current policy does not champion our strategic commitments to
education and belonging.

·      
Paying skills payment before a foster carer has completed their
training has led to
o  
demotivated cares to complete the Fostering Standards work in a
timely manner, meaning that our foster carers are not getting the
skills training as swiftly as they did in the past. This training
is critical in supporting the challenging situations that foster
carers can face supporting our children
o  
Secondly it is resulting in significant long term increased spend
in situations where connected carers are approved for a short
period whilst long terms plans are agreed for children. This
creates a massive financial disparity for connected carers in very
similar situations.
 
This option has been discounted.

 

 

11.4.2

Increase all skills
payments by the same percentage as the annual fostering national
minimum allowance
Our current skills payments are made per child
and are competitive against our regional local authorities.
Increasing skills payments by 6.8% would cost £175,200. Fees
were increased considerably in 2019, and the decision to pay the
full amount per child rather than providing foster carers with a
reduction in payment for subsequent children was also introduced.
Increasing the skills fee annually given this significant increase
in recent years does not represent good value for money for the
council and therefore has been discounted.