Pay boost for borough’s foster carers

Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education

Rochdale Borough Council is increasing payments to the borough’s foster carers in recognition of the work they do to support local children and young people who cannot safely live at home or with extended family members.

This received unanimous support from the council’s cabinet.

The change will boost weekly payments by 12.4 percent for an allowance that covers daily living expenses such as food, clothing and heating.

The uplift will help foster carers with the cost of living increases, so they can continue to support the borough’s most vulnerable children. Allowance payments are based on the age of the child and carers will now receive between £159 and £233 a week for each child in their care.

Additionally, the council has also increased the fostering fee, known as the skills payment. Entry level foster carers will now receive £160, with more experienced carers receiving £300; this fee is paid weekly for each child or young person in their care.

It is hoped the changes will support the recruitment of more foster carers which are urgently needed in the borough for children of all ages. There is a particular need for foster carers for young people aged ten and above and also those with more than one spare bedroom, to keep sibling groups together.

The changes will make fostering more financially viable for new foster carers, making it more accessible for single applicants and young families to come forward to foster.

Councillor Rachel Massey, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “We must not forget the amazing work our foster carers do on a daily basis to support our most vulnerable children and young adults.

“With nearly 600 children in care, we have many carers who have stayed with the local authority for years and we recently hosted an event to recognise our longest serving carers.

“We are now in line with neighbouring local authorities and independent fostering agencies which makes the future look brighter for the vulnerable children who need our help.”

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like to find out more, visit rochdale.gov.uk/fostering