3.8.8 Foster Carer Allowances |
Contents
- Introduction
- Components of Fee Paying Scheme
- Start of the Placement
- Emergency Duty Rota
- Ongoing Payments to Foster Carers
- Direct Expenditure on Child/Young Person
- Respite Care
- Flexible Day Care
- Budgeting
- Fee Element and Income Tax
- Payments for the Child/Young Person
- Life Chances Fund
- Contributions from Young People in Employment
- Enhancement Fees and Allowances
- Specialist Fostering Scheme
- Once the Young Person Reaches 18
- Mother and Baby placements
Appendix A: Equipment for Carers
Appendix B: Clothing Needed for a Child at the Start of a Placement
1. Introduction
In this booklet is guidance for social workers, managers and foster carers about how payments for looked after children should be made.
All foster placements are paid for per child per day of care including respite care, apart from flexible day care.
All foster carers receive allowances to care for children placed with them, with rates set according to the age of the child. The expectation is that the full cost of caring for the child/young person should be met from the weekly allowance.
Foster carers are paid a fee where they are approved and available to accept a succession of looked after children into their homes rather than just provide care for a single named child or children. The payment of a fee is in recognition of the tasks associated with undertaking this specific role; it is also to ensure that potential foster carers are encouraged and supported to come forward to be assessed and approved to provide placements which meet the range of needs of a variety of our looked after children.
The only exception to this is where carers who are on the fee paid scheme are matched long term with a child placed with them, in which case the payment of the fee is protected.
Also see Payments Table: Fees and Allowances for Foster Carers, Adopters, Special Guardians and Residence Orders.
2. Components of Fee Paying Scheme
The Fee Paying Scheme retains the principle of paying a taxable fee as a form of remuneration to foster carers and a non-taxable allowance to cover the actual costs of caring for a child.
In 2010/2011 the Fee element will be £167.33 per week for each foster placement, for all foster carers, regardless of the age of the child (See Section 10, Fee Element and Income Tax for more details.)
Weekly payments continue at the same rate for the duration of a placement and are made according to the age of the child/young person.
The expectation is that the full costs for caring for the child/young person should be met from the weekly allowance except in very exceptional circumstances. Occasionally, additional expenditure may be incurred that cannot be met within the allowance. In such circumstances agreement will need to be sought from either the Locality Team or Family Placement Unit as indicated in this guidance or the Enhanced Payments Guidance.
2.1 Weekly Payments as from 1st April 2011
| Age | Allowance (£) | Fee (£) | Total |
| 0-4 | 173.18 | 167.33 | 340.51 |
| 5-10 | 197.41 | 167.33 | 364.74 |
| 11-15 | 245.86 | 167.33 | 413.19 |
| 16+ | 298.48 | 167.33 | 465.81 |
Loyalty Bonus
In the interests of retaining carers the Royal Borough will pay a one off loyalty bonus of £250 to carers who have been with the Council continuously for 5 years and been available for placements during that time. In subsequent years a bonus of £250.00 is paid upon completion of carers 10, 15, 20, 25 years of continuously fostering. Carers who achieve the NVQ level 3 “Caring for Children and Young People” qualification will receive £250 regardless of length of service.
3. Start of the Placement
Queries regarding payments under this section should be addressed to the foster carer’s supervising social worker in the Family Placement Unit.
3.1 Start Up Equipment (Team Manager FPU/Team Manager FPU or Locality)
Foster carers are expected to have an adequately equipped home to receive a child/young person. If the foster carer is not adequately equipped to have a child/young person placed with them immediately after approval a start up equipment grant may be provided.
This equipment is not provided automatically but on the basis of what the child/young person needs. The assessing social worker should discuss what is needed before the case is presented to Fostering Panel and the details highlighted in the assessment report. A balance needs to be achieved between what the foster carer would ideally like and the level of equipment/furniture that a placed child/ young person is likely to have in their own home. This is of particular relevance if the child/young person is likely to return home.
The equipment/furniture is available for the use of the baby/child/young person fostered and remains the property of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Children with Disabilities: Equipment may also be supplied to allow a foster carer to care for a child with a disability. Equipment specific to a particular child’s needs will be paid for by the locality team. In full time placements where a benefit such as Disability Living Allowance is/could be claimed, the foster carer should receive this money. Where it is not possible to make the claim because of the child/young person’s legal status then the Department will match the level of the claim and pay this rate to the foster carer.
3.2 Replacement Equipment
Once a start-up equipment grant has been paid foster carers are expected to pay for replacement equipment/furnishings out of their weekly allowance except for items not purchased as part of the “start up” equipment allocation. These can be purchased once at a later date by the Department.
Damage to any equipment or furnishings whether accidental or deliberate must be reported immediately to the child’s social worker or the foster carer’s supervising social worker. Claims can then be processed through the appropriate channels. Deliberate damage by foster children should be discussed with them by their social worker and they may be asked to pay a “token” proportion for reimbursement.
3.3 Change of Approval (Team Manager FPU)
If a foster carer’s approval is changed so they foster additional or different age children, additional equipment/furniture may be required. This should be discussed with the appropriate supervising social worker and equipment may be supplied.
3.4 Smoke Alarms/Fire Blanket
Newly approved foster carers will be provided with smoke alarms and a fire blanket. They must remain in working condition and foster carers are responsible for battery replacement. They should be tested regularly (minimum Annual Inspection/Annual Review).
Fire extinguishers are not supplied.
4. Emergency Duty Rota
(Team Manager FPU)
Where it is agreed that a foster carer is included on the Emergency Duty Rota a reservation fee of £50.21 per week will be paid. There is no right to be on the rota and placement on it is based on the needs of the service for particular placement types. (Also see EDT Protocol for more detail).
5. Ongoing Payments to Foster Carers
5.1 Foster Carers own Travel Costs (Team Manager FPU)
A foster carer will be reimbursed for the actual additional public transport costs incurred when they are required to attend training courses, support groups or official meetings like LAC reviews and PEPs. Congestion charge and parking tickets will not be reimbursable for these activities as foster carers are expected to use public transport. Evidence of expenditure will be required and must be claimed within three months of the expenditure. (Also see Section 11.7, Children's Travel Costs).
5.2 “Baby” Sitting Allowance (Team Manager FPU)
This allowance is payable when foster carers are required to attend training courses or official meetings. The rate paid is as follows:
£5.75 per hour for 1 child; maximum daily period 8 hours, £6.50 per hour for 2 or more children; maximum daily period 8 hours.
6. Direct Expenditure on Child/Young Person
6.1 Child/Young Person going on Holiday with Foster Carer
Foster carers should discuss payment arrangements with their child/young person’s social worker before they incur any expenditure on a holiday. If the foster carer takes the foster child/young person away with them on holiday, the weekly foster payment continues.
Foster carers are expected to budget for holidays out of their weekly payments that include an amount towards the basic holiday grant (generally the equivalent of 4 weeks allowance pro-rata).
However during the year the equivalent of up to 8 weeks additional allowance is included in the payments made to carers. Due to this all holiday costs must be met from the allowance. The additional 8 weeks of allowance is also to cover birthday, holiday and festival expenses.
6.2 Foster Carers Holiday without a Foster Child/Young Person (Locality Team Manager and Team Manager FPU)
In general if a foster carer is on holiday, without the foster child, the weekly foster payment will cease for the period of the holiday and no reservation fee will be paid.
If the child is staying with the foster carers’ support carer then the fee for the foster carer will stop but the allowance will continue to be paid. It is expected that foster carers make a contribution to any expenses related to the child directly to the support carer. This needs to be agreed in a planning meeting between foster carer, support carer, and both social workers as per Holiday Guidance and Support Carer Procedure.
In exceptional circumstances where particularly challenging children are in place the fee payment only may continue to be paid. This would need to be agreed by the Locality Team Manager.
6.3 In Advance of a Placement: Reservation Fee (Locality Team Manager)
A reservation fee is paid when a carer is reserved for a particular child/ren or young person/people. Payment of the reservation fee means that the carer will not be made available for other placements in that vacancy. The reservation fee is £50.21 per week for a maximum of four weeks regardless of the number of children.
It should be made clear at the point of reservation that a payment is due and from when. This should be confirmed by an email from the Fostering Duty Social Worker to the Locality Team Manager stating:
- Carers Name;
- Child/ren’s Name/s;
- Reservation Period;
- Cost £50.21 per week or pro rata.
If a more suitable placement subsequently arises and the child is placed with the new carer the reservation fee is not refundable.
The reservation fee is processed by the Fostering Duty Social Worker.
6.4 Temporary Absences of the Foster Child
6.4.1 Absences of up to Seven Days
When a child/ young person is absent from their foster home for up to seven days normal payments continue. (Foster carers should inform their locality social worker and supervising social worker of any such absences.)
When a child is staying with a relative or friend from the child’s own network for up to seven days, the full foster payment continues unaltered. Foster carers are expected to make a contribution to any expenses associated with the visit and need to agree these with the relative or friend. The fee element continues to be paid and the carer has discretion whether to pass a pro rata amount onto the relative /friend or not.6.4.2 Absences of more than Seven Days (Locality Team Manager)
If the absence continues longer than seven days, a reservation fee of £50.21 per week is payable, up to a maximum of three weeks.
6.4.3 School Trips/Respite Care (Locality Team Manager)
When a child is absent on a school trip/respite care, for more than seven days a reservation fee is payable as above. Locality Team Manager
6.4.4 Absences of Child from Foster Home due to Respite Care Placement
6.4.5 Admissions to Hospital
When a child is admitted to hospital for more than 7 days only the fee payment will continue to be paid and then only up to a maximum of four weeks. After that period the reservation fee of £50.21 is paid providing the carer is still required for the placement.
6.4.6 Extended Stay in Hospital (Locality Team Manager)
If child is to remain in hospital for more than four weeks, approval must be sought to the payment of a reservation fee. Locality Team Manager
6.4.7 Absences from Foster Home for more than Four Weeks (Locality Team Manager)
Further approval must be obtained if a child is absent from the foster home for more than four weeks for whatever reason.
7. Respite Care
7.1 Definition of Respite Care
- To give parents or carers a break when caring for a child with special needs; or
- To prevent a child being “Looked After” long-term.
7.2 Respite Care - Children/Young People placed Direct from own Home (Locality Team Manager)
The decision to arrange for the placement of children/young to prevent the need for them to be accommodated long term is the responsibility of the Locality social worker.
7.3 Respite Care for Foster Carers (Locality Team Manager)
As part of a child/young person/s care plan and as part of the department’s contract with the foster carer it may be appropriate if a child/ young person has special needs for the foster carer to have respite care breaks. Such plans to be negotiated between the child/young person’s parents, the foster carers, locality and supervising social workers.
All carers are paid pro-rata for each DAY OF CARE, i.e. one-seventh of the appropriate weekly rate for any complete or part day of care provided.
The fee and allowance will stop for foster carers having respite unless it has been agreed by the locality manager that the rates should continue because the child has particularly high needs. Locality Team Manager
8. Flexible Day Care
(Locality Team Manager)
Flexible day care can be used when it is not appropriate for a child to be “Accommodated” and it is not appropriate for the child to be placed with a child minder.
The following rates apply:
- Less than four hours, half of the initial daily rate of fee paying scheme;
- More than four hours - but not overnight - the daily rate (i.e. one-seventh of initial weekly rate of fee paying scheme). Locality Team Manager.
9. Budgeting
Generally foster carers are responsible for deciding what proportion of their weekly payment is allocated to household expenses, and to meeting the child’s/young persons needs for pocket money and clothing allowance etc. The Fostering Network provides useful guidance for deciding on the amounts to be apportioned and are reproduced here. It is expected that the allowance payment is spent on the child or associated costs of caring for the child. Occasionally it may be necessary for social workers to discuss with carers how the allowance is being spent and we recommend that foster carers maintain a record of how they are spending the allowance, including receipts for any larger purchases.
For a guide to pocket money and clothing allowances see under Section 11, Payments for the Child and Young Person Para 11.8, Pocket Money and Section 11, Payments for the Child and Young Person Para 11.9, Money for Clothing.
Weekly Budgeting Guidance (based on the Fostering Networks recommendations)
Click here to view table containing Fostering Network Guidance.
10. Fee Element and Income Tax
The weekly foster rates to be paid during 2010/2011 will contain a £167.33 fee element. This applies to all fees paid under the Fee Paying Scheme i.e. regardless of the age of the child or the length of the placement.
Foster Care relief was introduced in 2003. It is a way of calculating whether tax is due to be paid by foster carers on their total annual receipt from fostering. An annual qualifying amount is used to calculate this amount during the tax year. The qualifying amount is made up of two amounts.
- A fixed amount of £10,000 each household
Plus
- An amount per week for each foster child placed with you.( Up to £220.00 a week for a child aged less than 11 and £250.00 per week for a child aged 11 or over).
Example 1: If during a financial year you foster a child aged 8 for 10 weeks and another child aged 14 for 22 weeks your qualifying amount would be:
- Fixed amount: £10,000.00;
- 8 Year old (10x £200.00) £2000.00;
- 14 Year old (22x £250.00) £5,500.00.
In this example any amount received above the qualifying amount would be due for tax. A Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea foster carer would receive the following amount for this situation.
8 years old 10 x £184.04 ( allowance ) plus 10 x £156.01 (Fee) =£3,400.50.
14 years old 10 x 229.21 (allowance) plus 10 x £156.01 (Fee) = £3852.11. Total £8,474.84
Total : £11,875.34
The actual sum received £11,875.34 does not exceed the qualifying amount, in this case the £17,500 so there is no tax due.
Some foster carers may find that they are due to pay tax.
Example 2 If during the financial year you foster a child aged 16 for 48 weeks and another aged 17 for 51 weeks your qualifying amount will be.,
- Fixed amount: £10,000
- 16 years old (48 x £250): £12.000.
- 17 years old (51 x 250): £12,750
- Qualifying amount: £34,750.00
In this example any amount received above the qualifying amount would be due for tax. A Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea Foster carer would receive the following amounts in this situation.
16 years old 48 x £278.28 ( Allowance ) plus 48 x 156.01 (Fee)
£20,845.92
17 years old 51 x £278.28 plus 48 x £156.01
£22,148.79
Total
£42994.71
The actual sum received £42994.71 does exceed the qualifying amount , in this case £34,750.00 so there is tax due on the difference between the qualifying amount and the total receipts.
- Total Receipts: £42,994.71
- Minus qualifying amount: £34,750.00
- Taxable: £8,244.71
The tax can be paid in 2 ways
- Simplified method - taxis paid on the difference between the receipts and the qualifying amounts;
- Profit method - calculate actual tax allowable expenditure, deduct from the total income and pay tax or claim trading loss relief on the difference.
Foster carers should choose the method that best suits their circumstances if tax is payable.
See HRMC website- Foster Care Relief.
Fostering Network leaflet- Income Tax and National Insurance (see Fostering Network website).
Foster carers are responsible for their own tax affairs. The Fostering Network publishes a helpful leaflet on foster care allowances and income tax and a general advice line offers telephone support.
Foster carers are responsible for their own tax and declaration of it. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea does not issue end of year statements for amounts received or any tax due.
11. Payments for the Child/Young Person
11.1 Initial Clothing (Locality Team Manager)
It is the responsibility of the child’s social worker to obtain all necessary clothing from the child’s home (or previous placement) and pass this to the foster carer when the placement is made. If the clothing does not meet the minimum requirement, for the time of year, a starter clothing grant can be requested the maximum amount is £60.
Social workers should agree an inventory of clothing at the point of placement with the foster carer and a similar list be made at the end of a placement.
For respite care placements clothing grants are not payable.
11.2 Additional/Replacement Clothing
No additional general clothing grants are made as foster carers are expected to pay for replacement clothing out of their weekly payments.
11.3 School Uniform (Locality Team Manager)
When a child moves to a new school, or when a new placement starts, appropriate items of school uniform may be purchased, including sports equipment.
11.4 Additional/Replacement School Uniform
No additional grants are made for replacement school uniform as foster carers are expected to budget throughout the year out of their weekly payments.
11.5 Additional Educational Equipment (Locality Team Manager)
Foster carers are required to pay the first £55 of expenditure during the year before claiming reimbursement. If expenditure during the year exceeds that amount a request for a special needs payment may be made.
11.6 School Trips (Locality Team Manager)
Foster carers are required to pay the first £55 of expenditure during the year before claiming reimbursement. If expenditure during the year exceeds that amount further payments will be at the discretion of the child’s social worker/ Team Manager.
11.7 Children’s Travel Cost (Locality Team Manager and Head of Service)
The allowance includes an amount for traveling and most children can now travel free or at a reduced rate in London buses and tubes (please check the Transport for London website for current rates). If a child has to travel to school a distance more than the cost of the allowance, additional travel costs can be reimbursed to the foster carer.
Traveling costs incurred by the Foster carer accompanying children of pre-secondary school age will be reimbursed above the cost of a two-zone weekly travel card. It is expected that most children of secondary school age can travel to school on their own.
In general if the child needs to travel anywhere the foster carer should utilize public transport wherever possible. If journeys are outside of London or cannot be undertaken by public transport agreement should be sought from the child’s social worker/Team manager for any additional costs.
Payment of Congestion Charge will only be agreed when using public transport is not a realistic option and is more cost effective than providing a taxi. See Foster Carers Congestion Charge guidance.
Any agreement for taxi’s over the amount of £50 will need Head of Service agreement.
11.8 Pocket Money
When children are first Looked After and a plan for rehabilitation home has been agreed the amount of pocket money should be discussed with the birth parent, locality social worker, foster carer and agreed. Again when children are placed in respite care pocket money payments must be negotiated with the birth parent.
In order that children in foster care and in Kensington and Chelsea Children’s Homes receive similar amounts of pocket money, the following table gives guidance to foster carers. Up to the following amounts may be paid:
| Age | Amount |
| 0-4 | 0 |
| 5-6 | 2.00 |
| 7-10 | 5.00 |
| 11-13 | 7.00 |
| 14 | 10.00 |
| 15+ | 12.00 |
Any excess pocket money from the recommended amount should be used to pay for other expenditure on the child or associated care costs.
11.9 Money for Clothing
Foster carers are encouraged to purchase clothing for the child/young person, as and when necessary. The amounts to be spent will vary with each child’s/young persons circumstances, dependent too upon the time of year and the length of stay of the child/young person.
Family Services does not require foster carers to pay a set “Clothing Allowance” to the young people in foster care (see Section 9, Budgeting). If a plan for rehabilitation home for the child/young person has been agreed their clothing needs should be negotiated between the locality social worker, the birth parent and the foster carer.
However, it may be appropriate for foster carers to give the young person some money in order that they can learn to buy clothing for themselves. The locality team social worker and the foster carer should bear in mind that the young person needs to have a realistic sense of budgeting on the income they are likely to have once they cease to be “’Looked After”. Monthly clothing amounts need to reflect this fact and young people should be encouraged to save for future requirements.
Discussions regarding payments for clothing must take place between the foster carer, the locality team social worker and the young person. They should not be seen as an automatic entitlement and can be withdrawn if the young person is not using the money appropriately.
11.10 Savings
The savings scheme was started in order to provide a significant sum of money for a young person when they leave care. The money saved is to help young people set up a flat or pay towards educational needs.
The young people in care will need have access to the money until there eighteenth birthday. Foster carers need to begin saving money for a child who has been looked after for 12 months or more.
If a bank account is already open for the Child Trust Fund (CTF), then this should be used for this savings scheme. If a trust fund has not been set up then the Kensington and Chelsea finance team will set up an account if the child has been in care for 12 months or more.
If the child is in care for less than 12 months then the foster carer, child’s social worker and supervising social worker need to agree where the savings will be kept, e.g. in the carer’s bank account.
The council will add £100 to a child’s savings account each year they are in care.
Each week the foster carer will be responsible for saving:
- £5 per week for children aged 10 yr olds and under;
- £10 per week for children aged 11 and over.
The savings scheme is intended as a long term savings plan, but carers and young people may wish to save additional money from the allowance to help children to save up and pay for items such as bikes, computers, etc.
See Savings Policy for more information.
12. Life Chances Fund
(Independent Reviewing Officer and Locality Team Manager)
There is a separate budget available for young people who would like to pursue activities that would be unreasonable for foster carers to fund or are not part of the foster carer’s normal family activity. Such activities might fulfil an educational or leisure need for the young person.
Examples of this are when the young person wants to pursue a course of specific training e.g. music or dance lessons or the young person might want to pursue a specific leisure activity such as regularly watching his favourite football team.
In addition, there is to access computers for young people through the Virtual School depending on their age and length of time they have been in care.
Obviously, many activities will fall within the scope of normal family activities such as swimming or may be available within the community at little cost. However, if you feel that a young person might benefit from this fund please speak to the child’s social worker.
13. Contributions from Young People in Employment
Young people in employment are required to contribute towards the cost of their maintenance within the foster home. Foster carers should consult their locality social worker as to the amount the young person is required to contribute. This will be dependent upon the young person’s financial circumstances.
14. Enhancement Fees and Allowances
(Team Manager FPU and Locality Team Manager)
The principle behind enhanced fees and allowances is that they should compensate for exceptional additional tasks or cover the actual costs of caring for a child/young person with specific care needs that cannot be met within the normal allowance. An enhancement might be provided where a child has a severe disability, for example.
In order to qualify for an enhancement the child’s needs will be assessed and presented to the Fostering Team Manager and Locality Team Manager will make a decision to provide an enhanced payment or not. Enhanced payments should be reviewed every 6 months by the Locality Team Manager.
Enhanced Allowance: The level of any enhancement to an allowance must be detailed as specific and verifiable expenditure in which case the additional amount will be paid. Foster carers and social workers applying for an enhancement must show that the basic allowance is inadequate to meet the costs of the child’s needs.
Enhanced Fee: Fee paid foster carers receive a fee for the tasks they undertake. The payment of this fee covers the range of tasks undertaken when caring for children who are looked after away from their birth family and who may have particular emotional and behavioural needs because of this. In very exceptional circumstances an enhanced fee may be paid where a child’s needs meet the criteria for Enhanced Adoption Allowance Categories C and E of the Adoption Allowance Child’s Needs Grid (adapted for use in fostering placements) as follows.
Category C: Children who have experienced extremely damaging early lives, or children of any age who have particular difficulties that require special care and attention for the foreseeable future.
Enhancement @ 1.5 times the basic fee
Category E: Children of any age with severe learning difficulties or physical disability, severe emotional and behavioural problems or a combination of these which will require indefinite special care and attention”.
Enhancement @ 2 times the basic fee.
15. Specialist Fostering Scheme
The Specialist Fostering Scheme is designed to provide homes for young people aged 12 to 17 who are going through troubled times and have a high level of need that cannot be met within general fostering.
Due to the complexities of the fostering task these carers will be paid 3x the fostering fee from approval date to termination. They will only receive the allowance element when a young person is in placement.
£167.33 x 3 = £501.99 per week or £26,103.48 per year.
16. Once the Young Person Reaches 18
(Independent Support Team Manager)
From 16 and often before forward planning on preparation for leaving foster care should begin. This includes suggestions/expectations that the carer supports the young person to save some of their allowance and/or purchase useful items for the time when they move on. In the small number of cases where the Pathway Plan identifies that the young person may need to stay on with their carer beyond 18 and the carer agrees, payments should be as follows:
- The fee is paid and is linked to agreed tasks on the part of carers and attendance at planning meetings etc.;
- A “living allowance” is also paid to the carer of £100.00 to meet wear and tear, heating costs etc.;
- The young adult claims benefit or is provided with benefit rate equivalent by the Independent Support Team and contributes an agreed amount to the household for additional living costs e.g. food. (Usually 70% of young persons money - approx. £30.00).
17. Mother and Baby Placements
(Locality and Team Manager)
Mother and baby placements attract the fee and allowance (less child benefit) appropriate to the age of the baby and mother as if they were both placed as independently looked after regardless of whether the baby is looked after or not. If the mother is over 18 the foster carer should be paid the fee and 16+ allowance rate. The payments are made to the foster carer in the normal way. When eligible mothers should apply for Child Benefit and this money is subtracted from the allowance. Social workers, foster carers and the mother should establish before the placement, roles and responsibilities in respect of care of the baby, any “baby sitting” tasks by the foster carer and financial aspects of the placement. It is expected that the mother will have primary care of the baby and the foster carer’s role is to support and model good parenting. Early assessment will be required to assess whether the baby needs accommodating in their own right or any order sought.
From the allowance and any child benefit payment a set amount should be allocated so that the mother can learn to manage the baby on a realistic budget for when a move to independence may be made. This money should be given to the parent to hold and make purchases from.
Appendix A: Equipment for Carers
Initial basic equipment can be provided if needed. The furniture/ equipment is for the use of the baby/ child/young person but remains the property of Kensington and Chelsea. The following list is a guide for foster carers:
BABIES
- Bottles/Bottle Steriliser;
- Cot;
- Cot mattress;
- 4 x sheets (Medical advice is that Duvets can make babies too hot and can be dangerous);
- 4 x blankets;
- Pram/pushchair or buggy;
- Carry cot/travel cot;
- Sling car seat;
- Baby bath;
- Baby bouncer/baby walker;
- Stair gate(s);
- High chair;
- Play-pen.
CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE
- Bed Wardrobe;
- Chest of drawers;
- Mirror;
- Bedside table;
- Lamp;
- Desk;
- Chair;
- Duvet;
- 2 Duvet covers;
- 2 Fitted sheets;
- 2 Pillows;
- 4 Pillow cases;
- 2 Towels.
Appendix B: Clothing Needed for a Child at the Start of a Placement
It is the responsibility of the child’s social worker to obtain all necessary clothing from the child’s home (or previous placement) and pass this to the new foster carer. It items on the list below are not available the child’s social worker can arrange for a starter clothing grant.
BABIES
- 2 dozen nappies
- (6 pairs plastic pants)
- 6 vests
- 2 pairs pyjamas
- 5 outfits
- 1 zip-through suit (for outdoor use)
- 1 pair gloves
- 1 warm hat
Children up to 12 years
| GIRLS | BOYS |
| 1 nightwear | 1 pyjamas |
| 1 dressing gown | 1 dressing gown |
| 7 pairs knickers | 7 pairs pants |
| 4 pairs socks | 7 pairs socks |
| 3 pairs tights | 3 vests |
| 1 slip | 2 T-Shirts |
| 3 vests | 2 shirts |
| 2 blouses | 2 sweaters |
| 1 sweater | 2 pairs trousers or jeans |
| 1 cardigan | National dress |
| 1 skirt or National dress | 1 pair shoes |
| 1 dress | 1 pair wellingtons |
| 1 pair trousers or jeans | 1 pair slippers |
| 1 pair shoes | 1 coat |
| 1 pair wellingtons | 1 pair gloves |
| 1 pair slippers | 1 warm hat |
| 1 coat | |
| 1 pair gloves | |
| 1 warm hat | |
Teenagers
| GIRLS | BOYS |
| 1 nightwear | 1 pyjamas |
| 1 dressing gown | 1 dressing gown |
| 10 pairs knickers | 7 pairs pants |
| 3 bras | 7 pairs socks |
| 7 pairs socks/tights | 4 T-shirts |
| 1 slip | 1 shirt |
| 2 T-shirts | 2 sweaters |
| 2 sweaters/cardigans | 1 pair jeans |
| 1 blouse | 1 pair trousers |
| 1 dress/pair trousers | 1 pair trainers |
| 2 skirts | 1 pair best shoes |
| 1 pair jeans | 1 coat |
| 1 pair best shoes | 1 warm hat |
| 1 pair trainers | 1 pair gloves |
| 1 coat | |
| 1 warm hat | |
| 1 pair gloves | |
School Uniform
When necessary a child’s social worker may arrange for some or all of the following items at the start of a new foster placement or when a child moves to a new school.
| GIRLS | BOYS |
| 1 dress | 4 shirts |
| 2 skirts | 2 trousers |
| 4 blouses | 2 sweaters |
| 2 cardigans | school tie |
| Blazer or jacket | Blazer or jacket |
| 1 pair school shoes | 1 pair school shoes |
| School Bag | School Bag |
PE KIT |
|
| 2 skirts or shorts | 2 shorts |
| 1 top or T-Shirt | 1 top or T-Shirt |
| 1 pair plimsolls | 1 pair plimsolls |
| 1 pair PE socks | 1 pair PE socks |
| Appropriate sports wear | Appropriate sports wear |
| e.g. hockey, swimming, football, rugby | e.g. hockey, swimming, football, rugby |