Half of foster payments 'too low'

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Half of the foster carers across Wales are being left out of pocket because they are not receiving the recommended expenses rate, a charity has said.

A survey for Fostering Network Wales found half the 22 Welsh councils paid less than its "benchmark" allowances.

The charity wants Wales to follow England and Northern Ireland and set statutory minimum allowance levels.

The Welsh Assembly Government said it had commissioned research into a national fees structure.

The Fostering Network said its recommended minimum allowances, which it revises annually, were widely accepted as the benchmark for necessary expenses incurred as a result of fostering.

For 2008-9, they ranged from £121 per week for a baby, to £209 for a 16 to 18-year-old, but some councils were paying as little as £71.

Freda Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Wales, said: "It's high time the Welsh Assembly Government showed that it fully values children in care by making sure that all foster carers across the country have enough money to pay for the things that their fostered children need.

Fostering Network's recommended allowances 2008-9 Age 0-4 £121.68Age 5-10 £138.61Age 11-15 £172.55Age 16+ £209.86

"A statutory requirement on local authorities to give their foster carers an adequate allowance is vital."

Sian Adams, 50, and her husband Craig have fostered more than 150 children over the past 17 years as well as raising five children of their own and one long-term foster child.

They used to foster via the local authority but switched to a private foster service a few years ago.

Mrs Adams said: "My husband was a child care social worker and we felt we had something to give.

'Shoes'

"I don't foster for the local authority any more for lots of reasons. One was monetary.

"You're asked to take on children that are in need of a lot with very little to do it on.

"Lots of children that you have are very heavy on their clothes. They tend to shoot up once they come into care and get good food and good treatment. They also tend to be heavy on shoes.

"They often come with nothing and you have to kit them out totally.

"You either end up going cap in hand to to the council for a clothing allowance, or you fund it yourself."

She said children coming into a family tended to cost 50% more than a child living with its parents would.

Traumatic events

"We took out loans so we could get bigger cars to cope with children coming into the family. We had to get a people carrier, and the only way to do that was to get a loan," she said.

"It makes a stressful, difficult job far more difficult. Not having to worry about the money makes us able to do the job to the best of our ability."

The Adams are now "therapeutic parents" and have trained specifically to deal with children who have been through very traumatic events.

She said the assembly government and local authorities needed to recognise the job foster carers did.

"We don't get days off with sick pay, we don't get extra benefits, we don't get child benefit or working tax credits for the children we look after.

'Complex needs'

"The kids are fantastic and there's a lot of non-monetary gains but people these days need to see what they'll get out of it as well. We need to be recognised for what we are worth."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said the assembly was committed to supporting foster carers, adding: "There continues to be wide variations in the allowances and support provided across Wales.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to implementing fairer and more equitable systems in allowances and support to foster carers that also recognises and rewards those who are highly skilled in caring for children with complex needs."