Fostering payments

1. A maintenance element for living costs
2. A reward element for the work undertaken

These are paid fortnightly whilst the child is living in the foster home. In addition carers are entitled to 2 weeks' paid holiday a year. Carers work on a self-employed basis and declare the professional fee for tax purposes.

Payment for Skills

This is a KCC initiative to recognise mainstream foster carer's abilities. The Competency Assessment Framework defines skills and outlines expectations and aims to enable carers to provide high quality care in a family setting. Carers are assessed through practice.  If the criteria is met, carers are paid an enhanced fee dependent on their assessed skill level. There are 2 levels for additional payment, £20 for level 2 and  £50 for level 3. These payments are paid on the carer's abilities and not on the needs of the particular child placed.

Specialist Foster Care

We pay enhanced fees for specialist scheme carers in recognition of the skills and additional training required in offering this type of care.

Treatment scheme

• Total fee is £761.20 (including a maintenance element of £203.49)

Therapeutic Reparenting Programme

• Total fee £596.89 (including a maintenance element of £203.49)

Short Break Foster Care for a disabled child

Mainstream foster care professional and maintenance fees are payable. An enhanced weekly payment of approximately £55.79 would also be payable.

Emergency Bed Foster Care

The age appropriate reward element for the child (x 2) is payable for this care plus a maintenance fee per week.