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Foster carers at Nottinghamshire County Council are set to benefit from an increase to fostering allowances.

Nottinghamshire County Council has announced that it is increasing its basic foster care allowances as part of an ongoing drive to retain its current carers and attract more people to foster care.

All foster carers receive a weekly allowance to help cover the costs of providing care for a child, with the level of payment they get dependent on the age of the child or young person and the complexity of the care needs as well as the foster carers’ years of service.

Zoe, 42, from Mansfield has been a foster carer with Nottinghamshire County Council for more than 9 years. She said,

“The fostering allowances we get for looking after children are really helpful and we find them to be quite generous. They are paid weekly and split into two parts: one for meeting the child’s needs and expenses, and one that is a skills payment for the foster carers that depends on your experience.

 “In addition, you can claim travel expenses, and extra allowances for things like taking a foster child on holiday.

“The allowances are reviewed regularly and have gone up a couple of times in recent years to take account of the cost of living increasing. The allowance that is for the child easily covers things like clothing, food, pocket money, activities, and a contribution to household bills.

“While we don’t choose to foster for the money, knowing that all the costs are covered and there is the skills payment that recognises us and our contribution is really important to making it a viable life choice.

“Together with informative and interesting training, great support from social workers and plenty of opportunities for foster carers to meet together with their children for social activities, it makes fostering not just possible, but an exciting and appealing way of life for us.”

Increases of the Basic Fostering Allowance for ages 0 to 4 and 5 to 10 will be made in line with Department for Education’s suggested rates, increasing by 3.55% from £170 to £176 weekly and £187 to £194 weekly, respectively.

In response to the significant need for foster carers for older children and teenagers, allowances for fostered children aged 11 to 18 are currently above the Department for Education’s recommendations and will be increased again from £225.69 to £233.70 weekly for 11- to 15-year-olds, and £274.56 to £284.30 weekly for the oldest placements aged 16 to 18.

Councillor Tracey Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Nottinghamshire County Council, welcomed the increases, saying that it is vital foster carers are recognised for the important role they do and compensated appropriately. She said:

“Our foster carers come from all walks of life and play an incredibly important role supporting and providing loving care for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Nottinghamshire.

“A safe, loving home is the best place for a child to thrive. Foster carers provide that family environment, helping prevent children for whom it would not be the best option from entering residential care. They help shape children’s lives and often create lifelong bonds.

“Foster carers are not primarily motivated by financial rewards, but it is crucial we recognise what they do and support them appropriately. I’m pleased that this decision will enable us to continue to ensure that foster carers will receive allowances that enable them to continue to provide vital support to local children and young people.

“We are always keen to welcome new foster carers. I encourage you to get in touch with our regional recruitment hub, Foster For East Midlands Councils, to find out more, ask questions and learn about the support you will receive through every stage of your application. Foster For East Midlands Councils also hosts regular information events where you can meet the team and hear from existing foster carers.”

To find out more about fostering in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby or Derbyshire, visit fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk, call 03033 132 950, or email hello@fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk.

Anyone with an interest in learning more about fostering is invited to a free information event, either online or in person. The next scheduled information events are:

·        Wednesday 19 March, 6.30pm to 7.30pm, at Chesterfield Fire Station Community Room, Chesterfield, S40 2WH.

·        Tuesday 25 March, 12pm to 1pm, online.

·        Wednesday 2 April, 6.30pm to 7.30pm, online.

·        Wednesday 9 April, 6pm to 7pm, at Tesco Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8EQ.

·        Tuesday 15 April, 12pm to 1pm, online.

·        Wednesday 23 April, 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Buxton Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Buxton SK17 6HX.

Book your free place and find out more about upcoming information events at fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk/events.