FOI Request - Foster Care Allowances

Request 101003292287

We are seeking to understand the way in which your foster carers are being paid in your service. The department which would know this information would be within social services in your fostering team.  

The information we require is:  

1. 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.

2. 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. 

a) Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.  

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

4. 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.

5. Your 2023-24 weekly allowances for former foster carers looking after young people in 16+ Continuing Care arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

6. Your 2023-24 weekly fee payments for former foster carers looking after young people in 16+ Continuing Care arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

Response 05-05-2023

1. Please see attached 2023 Allowances and Fees breakdown.

2.a) Extra two weeks at Summer, one week at birthday and Christmas

3. None

4.i) Please refer to 2023 Allowances and Fees breakdown.

ii) 

* Please note, the number of mainstream foster carers on this level is lower than 5. Due to the low numbers involved, release of this information could result in the identification of individuals. This information is therefore exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Personal Information.  

5. Please refer to 2023 Allowances and Fees breakdown.

6. Please refer to 2023 Allowances and Fees breakdown.