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Scotland leads the way on allowances for foster carers, says survey

09 October 2007

The number of local authorities in Scotland paying realistic allowances to their foster carers has nearly doubled in the last 12 months, according to a new survey published today by the Fostering Network Scotland.

Seventeen of the 32 local authorities are now paying allowances in line with the minimum rates recommended by the Fostering Network Scotland, compared with nine last year.

The allowance is a sum of money intended to cover the costs of caring for an extra child and pay for everything from nappies and clothes to food, birthday presents and outings. The Fostering Network Scotland argues that the minimum required to care for a foster child should start from £118.60 per week for children under 4 and go to £168.18 for a teenager.

However, there are still 15 local authorities in Scotland paying below the Fostering Network’s recommended minimum, leaving too many foster carers with the choice of dipping into their own funds or seeing their foster children go without.

Bryan Ritchie, director of the Fostering Network Scotland, said: “We are delighted that the number of local authorities paying our recommended minimum allowance has increased so dramatically since last year.

“While we commend the 17 authorities that are paying the Fostering Network’s recommended minimum allowance, it is unacceptable that so many foster carers in the other 15 local authorities are being put in a position where they are having to choose between using their own money to buy something their foster child needs or seeing them go without.”

Download the report: Foster Care Allowances and Fee Payments in Scotland (PDF).

For media enquiries or to arrange interviews with a spokesperson or case study contact Becca Bryant or Naomi Westland at the Fostering Network on 020 7620 6437/6441 or email media@fostering.net.

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Notes to Editors

  1. Based on figures in the Expenditure and Food Survey, the Fostering Network Scotland compiled recommended minimum allowance rates. For years, these rates have been widely recognised as the lowest acceptable level needed to cover the costs incurred from fostering.
  2. Allowances should cover pocket money, clothing, food, school uniforms/equipment, an amount towards holidays, birthdays and religious/cultural festivals, travel and extra housing costs. Fee payment is remuneration for the time and skills of the foster carer, like a salary.
  3. There are just over 50,000 children and young people in foster placements in the UK on any given day.
  4. The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in fostering, and exists to ensure that all fostered children receive the highest standards of care.