Freedom of information response

Foster care allowances 2023/24

Publication date: 
Tuesday 13 June 2023
Request: 

For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with additional support needs or disabilities.

Your current fee/reward structure for mainstream foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.

ii) The number of mainstream foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

For your kinship foster carer population (connected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in kinship foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

Your current fee/reward structure for kinship foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i) Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.

ii) The number of kinship foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

Your 2023-24 weekly allowances for former foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

Your 2023-24 weekly fee payments for former foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

Response: 

Your current fee/reward structure for mainstream foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

  1. Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.
    1. Our Fostering Payments Policy is available online and details the information requested. This can be found at https://www.fosteringhandbook.com/thurrock/files/payments.pdf s.2
  2. The number of mainstream foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

Allowance only

Care skills

Care Skills +

High Needs Rate

0

40

29

4

For your kinship foster carer population (connected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in kinship foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

Your current fee/reward structure for kinship foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

  1. Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.
    1. Our Fostering Payments Policy is available online and details the information requested. This can be found at https://www.fosteringhandbook.com/thurrock/files/payments.pdf s.2
  2. The number of kinship foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child’s allowance.

Allowance only

Care skills

Care Skills +

High Needs Rate

5

5

    

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Request reference:
FOI 12815