Will the Minister clarify what financial support is available to those working in the Welsh foster care sector, to protect our most at-risk children?
The Welsh Government introduced the National Minimum Allowances for Foster Carers on 1 April 2011 and made a commitment to review the rates of allowances on a three yearly cycle. The allowance is designed to cover all expenses incurred in looking after a fostered child. The actual level of allowance that any foster carer will receive will depend on a number of factors, in particular the specific needs of an individual child.
These allowances should be applied to all foster carers approved by a fostering service registered in Wales who are caring for a looked after child. This includes approved foster carers who are friends or family of the child and short break or respite carers
Fee payments can also be made on top of allowances to recognise a foster carers’ time, skills and experience.
Foster Carers in Wales are able to access a range of financial assistance, including for example:
- Council tax reductions;
- Retainer payments;
- Access to free childcare and free school meals for children they look after;
- Make best use of the tax free earnings threshold applied to their self-employed status;
- Reduced or free local bus travel;
- Free parking.
A number of local authorities recognise their foster carers as part of their workforce and as such are able access to the local authority staff discount scheme. This can mean access to a variety of financial incentives such as car purchase schemes, reduced cost driving lessons, swimming lessons and shop discounts.
Foster carers in the independent sector should contact their Fostering Agency directly to access information on the support that is available to them locally.