Foster Carers in Trafford are set to see a 50 per cent increase in funding to support them in looking after children in their care.
At a meeting of the Executive on Monday 26th June 2017, Councillors agreed a recommendation which will see the weekly fostering allowance for carers of children in younger age ranges (0-10 years) be increased by 50 per cent and allowances for carers of older children (11-17 years) see an increase of 20 per cent.
Executive Councillor for Children and Families, Cllr Mike Whetton, said: “Taking a child into the home is a huge commitment and we recognise this. The Council places great value on our foster carers and compensating them appropriately for the care and attention they give to these young people deserves our utmost respect and consideration.
I recognise many foster carers do this for the rewarding personal experience in terms of helping to give a young person a loving stable home for a period of time. However, this does not mean they should incur costs which could prohibit or discourage them from fostering.
This major review of funding will hopefully encourage foster carers who have left the system to come back as well as encouraging others to find out more about the benefits of becoming a foster carer. This decision is a ‘win-win’ solution as paying foster carers more means we will recruit and retain more of them whilst keeping our out of area and residential costs of care lower. In turn our looked after children are in a much more stable and positive environment of a family home.”
This new funding structure will come into place on 1st October 2017.
Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer in Trafford can visit http://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/fostering/fostering.aspx
To read the full report visit: https://democratic.trafford.gov.uk/documents/s21477/Fostering%20Allowances%20Report.pdf
Posted on Thursday 29th June 2017