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Fostering Relations wholly supports the view that foster carers deserve recognition for the immensely positive contribution they can make to the lives of children and young people who may have been hurt or traumatised by previous experiences. Fostering Relations considers foster carers to be co-workers who have a right to be supported, trained and remunerated appropriately and valued accordingly.
Fostering Relations does what it says on the tin! We build relationships with our carers, with local authorities and with our children and young people. We have working connections with service providers such as psychologist, psychiatrist, play and art therapists and education workers to ensure that what is needed to assist or enhance a child’s opportunities or a carer’s work can be accessed within a reasonable timescale.
Fostering Relations also has a strong and supportive association with Cairn Mhor Childcare Partnership, Fife that can provide our carers with a range of supportive input by staff experienced in working directly with young people. The possibilities of this association continue to develop with both organisations complementing each other.
Fostering Relations is totally committed to a partnership approach where skills and experience can be shared and we believe that this can only strengthen the care experience for children and young people placed with us. They have the right to expect that we will do our utmost to ensure this.
Fostering Relations carers should never feel they are out on a limb and to this end we are committed to providing support from fully qualified and experienced social workers. Workers will be expected to visit carers once every two weeks or more frequently if necessary both to supervise the work of the carer and also give support in whatever form required. There will always be the opportunity for a carer to access a worker for specific advice or just to offload.
Out of office hours, carers will be advised of a telephone number they can contact where they will be able to speak with a worker should they require advice that cannot wait until the next working day.
Whilst carers are the responsibility of the agency, the child remains the responsibility of the placing local authority and as such will retain links with a social worker from that authority, who through their knowledge of the child, will be in a position to assist the carer in his/ her care.
A further line of support will be within the carer pool itself where carers can contact each other to seek advice.
Financial Support
Fostering Relations provides carers with an allowance that covers elements for the practicalities of the child’s care and also a fee element that recognises the carer’s skills and abilities.
If a sibling group of two or more children are placed then there will be an allowance reduction for the second and subsequent children.
The allowance is expected to cover:
- Clothing and Footwear
- Food
- Household costs
- Pocket money and Leisure
- Childcare (babysitting where agreed)
- Attendance at Training and Meetings
- Travel in connection with the placement
- Personal care and equipment
- Insurance/ wear and tear/ repairs and replacements
There will be additional allowances paid to the carer at the child’s birthday, Christmas (or other religious festival depending on the child’s culture) and holiday time.
Allowances will be paid only while the child is in placement.
Carers are considered self employed for tax purposes and are responsible for National Insurance contributions. It is unlikely that carers will pay tax if fostering is their only employment.