Agenda item

A.   Report attached, Councillor Quinn to provide an overview.

B.   Bryan Holland to be in attendance to provide representation on behalf of the Foster Carer Forum

Councillor Quinn, Deputy Cabinet Member firstly began by acknowledging the hard work of foster carers and the dedicated hard work they do.

Councillor Quinn provided an update on action taken to consider the financial support being offered to foster carers now and in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. The report also provided an update on the progress of a review of Bury’s current fostering, fees, allowances, and incentives and how we compare to other Greater Manchester local authorities.

Brian and Lorraine attended from the Fostering Association to provide their views. Key points highlighted were:

·         The £200 payment will help this month but will not stretch further.

·         Fees have not changed much for 12 years

·         Foster carers have stood the pandemic with no support

·         Independent fostering agencies offer more money to foster Children

·         Families who foster children need money to support the children to have the same as their peers

·         Communication between services needs to improve

·         We need to be involved in decision making to put forward personal views

Councillor Boles thanked Brian for his powerful contribution to the meeting and wished to move on to questions from the committee.

Jeanette Richards, Executive Director for Children and Young People advised the Local Authority does not compare itself with Independent Fostering Agencies. Children’s Services Departments across the country have shared issues with placement sufficiency and escalating costs for high-cost placements which is the same in Bury. Bury’s strategy must be to support our own foster carers and increase our own fostering sufficiency, to provide our community with opportunities to become foster carers and to ensure we have the strongest influence as corporate parents over the care our looked after children receive. Our Fostering service has not been reviewed in many years which is why we are undergoing a restructure to compartmentalise to generate the best outcomes around recruitment, training and support.

Improvements are to be made; to support this one being specific leadership of the service which is within the restructure and includes the creation of a dedicated Head of Service to grow our resources and support our carers.

Discussions took place regarding foster carers dedication and hardwork especially in relation to the support they give to children with disabilities coming into care who need more support.

Discussions took place regarding Bury being one of eight Greater Manchester authorities who are exploring the possibility of the development of a Greater Manchester Enquiry Hub aimed at supporting foster carer recruitment.  

Members asked if work could take place with the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector to put together a holistic package to support foster carers over the Christmas period.

Members discussed the paper regarding financial support for foster carers and sought commitment that the recommendations are carried out at the soonest possible opportunity. Members were advised that the papers are being worked on then will be consulted on with Foster Carers, therefore the papers will be considered at January Cabinet.  

It was agreed unanimously:

1.    That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee recommend to Cabinet that on receipt of a report regarding foster carer financial support they give consideration to whether any increased financial support should be backdated.