Contact: Sue Kocaman Ext: 7173 E-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

The following decisions are sought:

1.1 That approval be given for adoption, residence and kinship allowances, foster care and family link allowances and foster carers' skill fees to increase as follows:

1. Increase Adoption Allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004
2. Increase Residence Allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004

3 Increase Kinship carer allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004

4 Increase Family Link Allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004
5 Increase Foster Carers Skill Fees by 2.5.% as of 1 April 2004
6. Increase Fostering Allowances by 2.5.%, plus additional miscellaneous expenses for foster carers as of 1 April 2004

2 Reason

2.1 To assist in achieving the Corporate Aims of the County Council by

Maximising Life opportunities (Aim One) and

Building strong and safe communities ( Aim Four)

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 Not to increase the allowances

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or a Member or Officer consulted

4.1 N/A

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 N/A

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

Contact: Graham Wright/Sue Kocaman Ext: 7263/7173

1. It is proposed that Adoption Allowances increase by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004. Currently 172 children who have been adopted, are eligible for adoption allowances, and adopters are subject to an annual assessment to establish continued eligibility, and to take account of changing circumstances. In October 2003 new Adoption Support Regulations came into force, which extends the ways in which adopters can be supported in their care of children. In future, an increased number of adopters will be able to request an assessment for financial support. The number of children being supported by way of a regular allowance has increased by 46 since last year. A 2.5% increase from 1 April 2004 is appropriate, in line with the rate set by the County Council for services.

2. It is proposed that Residence Allowances increase by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004. Currently 55 children are supported by way of a residence allowance, and again these allowance rates are awarded following a financial assessment. In the last year there has been a net increase of 4 children, on the numbers of children supported in this way .

3. Kinship Care allowances are being newly developed in Hampshire, with a small number of children being supported in this way currently . Allowances are awarded in line with those granted to adopters and those seeking a Residence order, and it is proposed that the rate be increased by 2.5% in line with similar allowances. It is expected that there will be a significant rise in the number of children being supported in this way in the coming year. This is in line with Hampshire County Council's policy of enabling children who would otherwise be in public care, to be cared for within their extended family.

4. It is proposed that Family Link Allowances be increased by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004. Currently 120 children benefit from using this scheme which offers planned, family based respite care to children with disabilities. During 2003, a new system of calculating Family Link Allowances was introduced, which represented an increase in allowances for families caring for children using the scheme. Family link carers were also able to take advantage of the `Payments for Skills `scheme for the first time. This service offers significant support to children and their families, and is one which Hampshire County Council is committed to developing in the coming year. A 2.5% increase in line with other allowances is therefore recommended. This would mean that family link carers would receive the following rates:

	2003/04	2004/05
0 - 4hrs	£12.00	£12.30
4 - 8hrs	£22.00	£22.55
8 - 12hrs	£30.00	£30.75
Overnight	£18.00	£18.45
Waking Night	£30.00	£30.75

5. All foster carers are automatically assessed as competent at skill level one and thereafter are invited to work towards level two and three if they wish to do so. Currently 205 foster carers are receiving a skill level payment.

In addition, a small number of foster carers ( 35) remain on the Project Care Scheme which pays a fee of £121.08 per child per week.

Work is currently underway to consider whether any or all of these fees should be increased , or indeed replaced, to offer a scheme which is more in line with that offered by Specialist Schemes and Independent Fostering Agencies. A small pilot scheme was proposed last year but the decision was taken to carry out a more comprehensive review before implementing any changes.

Until that work is completed it is proposed that all of the above fees be increased by 2.5% ( or as near as possible to enable the skill fee to remain divisible by 7, in order that Family Link Carers can continue to easily use the scheme), with a commitment to consider the recommendations of the work underway early in the Spring of 2004. This would mean that carers would receive;

	2003/04	2004/05
Level 2	£56.00	£57.40
Level 3	£76.30	£78.20

6. Hampshire's foster carers offer an excellent professional service to children who need to be looked after away from home, both on a short term basis and as a long term arrangement. Foster carers consistently indicate that training, support and access to information are the most important ways in which the Social Services department can work in partnership with the foster carer to ensure that the high standards of care continue to be available.

7. The Social Services department has funded a specific post to develop and deliver a programme of training for foster carers, which complements the support and supervision already available, and a new training calendar has just been produced.

8. A Website has been developed to ensure that information and guidance is available at all times, and fostering households without computer access have been provided with computers during 2003 so that more young people can be assisted in their educational activities and in maximising their contact with family and friends.

9. A new, independent support scheme has been made available to foster carers who have a complaint made against them, in order to make this experience a less traumatic one.

10. The Hampshire Fostering Network produces regular newsletters, holds meetings around the County every month and organises regular social and information based events for foster carers and their families.

11. In respect of fostering allowances for 2004/05, it is proposed to increase allowances by 2.5% for all age groups at this stage. This would mean that foster carers would receive the following allowances;

.

	Current Hampshire Rates	New Hampshire Recommended Rate
0 - 4	£95.20	£97.58
5 - 10	£109.06	£111.79
11 - 15	£135.66	£139.09
16 +	£175.63	£180.04

12. The County Council also makes available additional grants and payments to meet the needs of individual children in exceptional circumstances. This may be through the adaptation of a foster carer's home, the provision of specialist equipment or services, or specialist training or services to enable a young person to more fully achieve his or her potential.

13. This year the county council is also proposing some additional related increases to ensure that foster carers are supported in their role.

14. Childcare rates, to enable foster carers to attend important meetings and training, are proposed to increase from £10.66 per session, to £4.00 per hour.

15. Mileage rates for essential travel are proposed to increase from 36.3p per mile to 40p per mile.

16. These changes were proposed following consultation with the Hampshire Fostering Network whose views were that the increases would emphasise the value that is placed on foster carers and the service they offer on behalf of the Count Council to children who are looked after. The cost of these proposals would be in the region of £135, 000.

17. During 2004 it is anticipated that further proposals will be made about the ways in which the County Council will invest in its fostering service, in order to continually recognise the value of the service to vulnerable children.

18. Corporate aims

To improve life chances for vulnerable children with reference to the following government targets:

18.1 Increasing the number of children who are found permanent families through adoption or placement with extended family or within their kinship networks.

18.2 Supporting children with disabilities and their families by providing a range of family based respite care through the Family Link Scheme.

18.3 Ensuring choice of placement and stability for children looked after, with foster families who are trained and supported to;

help those children return home successfully or support children who cannot return home to achieve independence, by ensuring that they receive the health care, education , emotional support and life chances which they need, in order to become adults who can fully contribute to, and benefit from the life of the community.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Increase Adoption Allowance by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004

Reference Paragraph 1

2. Increase Residence Allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004

Reference Paragraph 2

3. Increase Kinship Care allowances by2.5% as of 1 April 2004

Reference Paragraph 3

4. Increase Family Link Allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004

Reference Paragraph 4

5. Increase Foster Carers Skill Fees by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004

Reference Paragraph 5

6. Increase Fostering Allowances by 2.5% as of 1 April 2004, plus additional

miscellaneous expenses for foster carers.

Reference Paragraphs 11, 14 and 15

CONCLUSION

That the above recommendations for increases to fees and allowances be confirmed.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act