Purpose

To look at the current competitive rates for foster carers and to increase the council tax discount to 100%, looking at this for foster carers, SGO carers, and potentialy for supported lodging carers

Decision

RESOLVED – That the implementation of 100% Council Tax discount introduced for Foster Carers and the current position for retaining and increasing WCBC Foster Carers be noted.

Reasons for Decision

(i) Continuing with current incentives allows WCBC Fostering Services to remain on equal footing within the highly competitive fostering market and to deliver sufficient volumes of fostering support by 2030. WCBC will remain one of the leading authority for financially supportive incentives in Wales which is not just in relation to council tax deduction but linked with the current Champion Foster Carers, which has being of national interest, where we have shared good practice with our partners in Powys, Conwy, Cheshier West, to name a few. The support offered is not just financial with the offer of out of hours support, and therapeutic worker input are other major positives to fostering in Wrexham.

(ii) All incentives are aimed to highlight that Wrexham has an attractive offer for prospective foster carers. The objective to support further enquiries and increase in, WCBC foster carers. Our marketing approach is clear on the difference WCBC can offer to and IFA arrangement.

(iii) The incentives have contributed to support recruitment of foster carers in the context of a number of current foster carers reaching retirement age, this is detailed further within the report.