On 10 January 2017 the Executive considered the report of the Strategic Director Children’s Services (Executive Document “AS”) which set out the proposals to;

Align the level of fostering allowances ensuring that payments for all fostering, special guardianship, Child Arrangement Orders (formerly Residence Orders) and adoption are all paid at the same rates as required by law.

The proposal to bring fostering allowances in line with statutory requirements will achieve affordable equity for children for whom Bradford has a financial responsibility by ensuring that they are not disadvantaged as a result of the permanency option that best meets their needs.

On 10 January 2017 the Executive considered the report of the

Strategic Director Children’s Services (Executive Document “AS”)

which set out the proposals to;

Align the level of fostering allowances ensuring that payments for all

fostering, special guardianship, Child Arrangement Orders (formerly

Residence Orders) and adoption are all paid at the same rates as

required by law.

The proposal to bring fostering allowances in line with statutory

requirements would achieve affordable equity for children for whom

Bradford had a financial responsibility by ensuring that they were not

disadvantaged as a result of the permanency option that best meets

their needs.

Executive Resolved –

That Option 2 – Reducing Fostering allowances to the

Government minimum allowances over a two year period

with effect from 01 April 2017 be approved.

The decision of the Executive was called in.  The reasons for the call in were set out below:

·         It is acknowledged by the council that Foster Carers already possess a strong sense of being undervalued, though the report provides members with no indication or projection of the potential impact that the implementation of the Executive’s decision, may have upon the Council’s Sufficiency Duty in relation to looked after children.

·         Whilst the report makes reference to legal requirements relating to payments made to the carers of Looked After Children and the actions of the Courts, in to date rejecting local authority justifications for differences in allowances paid to the different types of carers, the information provided regarding the legal requirements is not sufficient for members to ascertain whether the Council’s circumstances are comparable and thus whether any legal obligations are likely to be breached.  

In response to the Call-In, the Strategic Director of Children’s Services submitted Document “AG” which provided a commentary on the call-in.

The Deputy Director, Children’s Social Care expressed his appreciation for the valuable service provided by foster cares to the most vulnerable children in the district and acknowledged their concerns.  He also thanked those who had sent supporting messages.   He summarised the background from 2015 and referred to the decision of the Executive of 10 January Executive which had been called-in.  He referred to the reasons for call-in which related to sufficiency and clarity on legal obligations.

He added that clear legal advice had been given that the allowance paid in relation to Foster Carers, Special Guardians, Family and Friends and Adoption and Residence Orders should be the same.  He explained that the authority could either equalise up (which would have a financial impact) or revise all rates to that set by the Department for Education (while understanding that this was a reduction).  The introduction of the new rate would be staggered over 2 years.

He went on to advise members that fees and allowances had been compared to other authorities in the area.  In the vast majority of circumstances Bradford compared favourably to other authorities.  It was accepted that  there would be circumstances where individual foster cares would do better in another authority.  The vast  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.