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| Foster care professional pay call | Foster care professional pay call |
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| By Chris Buckler BBC News Fostering Network says pay does not reflect "a living wage" | By Chris Buckler BBC News Fostering Network says pay does not reflect "a living wage" |
| A charity is claiming that more than three-quarters of foster carers in the UK earn less than the equivalent of the minimum wage, with a third of carers having seriously considered giving up. | A charity is claiming that more than three-quarters of foster carers in the UK earn less than the equivalent of the minimum wage, with a third of carers having seriously considered giving up. |
| Any parent will tell you raising children has its rewards but they will also make clear the work involved. | Any parent will tell you raising children has its rewards but they will also make clear the work involved. |
| Foster carers, like Michelle and Paul Sutcliffe, in Cheshire, know all those highs and the lows. They have been looking after children for 16 years - long before their own sons were born. | Foster carers, like Michelle and Paul Sutcliffe, in Cheshire, know all those highs and the lows. They have been looking after children for 16 years - long before their own sons were born. |
| "You do get rewards out of it. You get to meet some lovely people, lovely children and it changes your life. | "You do get rewards out of it. You get to meet some lovely people, lovely children and it changes your life. |
| "Some of them stay with us for years and years," says Michelle. | "Some of them stay with us for years and years," says Michelle. |
| The family looks after their own children Liam, seven, and three-year-old Connor, alongside those they foster. | The family looks after their own children Liam, seven, and three-year-old Connor, alongside those they foster. |
| A teenage girl is with them on a long-term basis and she returned home from school as I was talking to the Sutcliffes. | A teenage girl is with them on a long-term basis and she returned home from school as I was talking to the Sutcliffes. |
| It was immediately clear that she was treated as one of the family - joining in the fun as the boys played in the living room. | It was immediately clear that she was treated as one of the family - joining in the fun as the boys played in the living room. |
| The Sutcliffes also foster others on an ad hoc basis, providing respite care. | The Sutcliffes also foster others on an ad hoc basis, providing respite care. |
| In a regular week it means they care for at least two teenagers as well as their two boys. | In a regular week it means they care for at least two teenagers as well as their two boys. |
| Earnings survey | Earnings survey |
| The time has come where foster carers have to be recognised financially Michelle Sutcliffe, foster carer | The time has come where foster carers have to be recognised financially Michelle Sutcliffe, foster carer |
| Paul quit his job a few years ago to concentrate on fostering and is paid about £150 a week. | Paul quit his job a few years ago to concentrate on fostering and is paid about £150 a week. |
| While allowances are also paid to reflect the costs of looking after a child, the family say they believe that the amount earned should be considerably more. | While allowances are also paid to reflect the costs of looking after a child, the family say they believe that the amount earned should be considerably more. |
| "The time has come where foster carers have to be recognised financially," argues Michelle. | "The time has come where foster carers have to be recognised financially," argues Michelle. |
| "Residential care workers, for instance, are paid £18,000 a year and I think the time has come where foster carers have to be recognised in a similar way." | "Residential care workers, for instance, are paid £18,000 a year and I think the time has come where foster carers have to be recognised in a similar way." |
| The fees paid vary from area to area and depend on several factors, including the needs of the child, the experience of the carer and the type of fostering involved. | The fees paid vary from area to area and depend on several factors, including the needs of the child, the experience of the carer and the type of fostering involved. |
| However the Fostering Network insists that the money paid does not reflect what it describes as "a living wage". | However the Fostering Network insists that the money paid does not reflect what it describes as "a living wage". |
| It surveyed more than 2,000 foster carers and discovered that 77% earned less than they would be paid for a 40-hour-week on the national minimum wage (around £230). | It surveyed more than 2,000 foster carers and discovered that 77% earned less than they would be paid for a 40-hour-week on the national minimum wage (around £230). |
| 'Demanding work' | 'Demanding work' |
| The charity claims the UK needs 10,000 more foster carers | The charity claims the UK needs 10,000 more foster carers |
| For many people money is not the main motivation for fostering, but 36% of the carers surveyed said they had seriously considered giving it up as a result of what they viewed as the poor pay. | For many people money is not the main motivation for fostering, but 36% of the carers surveyed said they had seriously considered giving it up as a result of what they viewed as the poor pay. |
| The charity says that is a worry because there is already a shortage of 10,000 foster carers in the UK. | The charity says that is a worry because there is already a shortage of 10,000 foster carers in the UK. |
| "Fostering has changed over the years," says Madeline Tearse, who wrote the report for the Fostering Network. | "Fostering has changed over the years," says Madeline Tearse, who wrote the report for the Fostering Network. |
| "Foster carers are now expected to carry out skilled and demanding work, which should be recognised with professional rates of pay." | "Foster carers are now expected to carry out skilled and demanding work, which should be recognised with professional rates of pay." |
| Different fostering services offer different rates - the Fostering Network wants that to change. | Different fostering services offer different rates - the Fostering Network wants that to change. |
| It is calling for government ministers across the UK to work to ensure that a minimum rate of pay is established. | It is calling for government ministers across the UK to work to ensure that a minimum rate of pay is established. |
| But that requires support at a time when many public services are facing cuts. | But that requires support at a time when many public services are facing cuts. |
| Michelle Sutcliffe accepts it will not be easy getting fees increased but she insists it is important that carers' voices are heard. | Michelle Sutcliffe accepts it will not be easy getting fees increased but she insists it is important that carers' voices are heard. |
| "You are always going to get a certain amount of foster carers who will continue to foster whatever," she says. | "You are always going to get a certain amount of foster carers who will continue to foster whatever," she says. |
| "But I do think, especially in the financial climate as it is, that people will start to leave. | "But I do think, especially in the financial climate as it is, that people will start to leave. |
| "There are carers I know who have already left to go and work in supermarkets and DIY stores, because they need a regular income that is more than you get from fostering." | "There are carers I know who have already left to go and work in supermarkets and DIY stores, because they need a regular income that is more than you get from fostering." |
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