Decision details

Modifications to the West Sussex County Council Foster Care Allowances - OKD66 (20/21)

Decision Maker: Executive Director Children, Young People and Learning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The County Council faces an ever-increasing demand for the availability of high quality placements for children who are looked after. Despite an increase in the approval of new foster carers in the last two years, it is recognised that further work is required to improve the recruitment and retention of foster carers. 

 

Therefore it is proposed to modify the current in-house foster carer allowance scheme to enable the Council to attract and increase in-house foster carer provision. By modifying the current allowance scheme, it will:

·       attract more carers to foster for the Council

·       increase in-house provision to enable more children to be placed locally

·       expand in-house provision to provide multiple placements to support siblings

·       reduce the level of reliance on independent fostering agencies

·       drive better value for money

Decision:

(1)The Executive Director of Children, Young People and Learning has approved the implementation of the modification to the current County Council foster carer allowance scheme set out in section 2 of the report.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None

Publication date: 05/03/2021

Date of decision: 05/03/2021

Effective from: 17/03/2021

Accompanying Documents: