Lead Member: Councillor Andy Hall, Portfolio Holder for Children & Education

Lead Officer: Sonya Miller, Service Director – Children & Young People

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.     Approved uplift to fostering Skills Payment at 5% increase with effect from 01/04/26.  

2.     Considered and approved increasing mileage rate paid to internal foster carers from 0.45 per mile to £0.55 per mile from 01/04/26 as per the change in government agreed figure.  

3.     Considered and approved increasing amount of mileage that can be claimed, removing the requirement for foster carers to deduct the first 30 – 70 miles weekly before claiming mileage. To commence from 01/04/27.  

4.     Considered and approve paying approved carers beyond our Care Plus rate (£640.50 with uplift), with an additional Skills payment of £250 per week for first 12 months as part of Belonging and Stable Homes Scheme, where a child is assessed to need residential care, and support work has been completed by the team around the child, and the child is ready for a family care arrangement. This payment is to incentivise Foster Carers to transition children from residential care into supportive, stable homes and recognises the skill and commitment required during settling period.  

5.     Approved the proposal to pay annual National Trust Membership for up to 100 Fostering households

6.     Considered and approved offering free parking to Shropshire Foster Carers at all our council parking venues. This is difficult to cost as this would reflect a small reduction in council income as opposed to direct cost. Should this be something that Council are prepared to support in principle a further survey can be completed to gather more data for exact car parks used by each foster carer.

Cabinet considered proposals to enhance the fostering payment arrangements as part of the Council’s strategy to recruit and retain foster carers and increase the number of children able to live in family-based care. Members heard that fostering provides better outcomes for children whilst reducing reliance on costly external residential placements.

The report highlighted recent success in recruiting additional foster carers and included proposals to strengthen the financial and wider support available to foster families. Members welcomed the ongoing work to develop partnerships with local businesses to provide additional benefits for foster carers and discussed the importance of supporting carers to help meet growing demand.

Cabinet recognised the valuable contribution made by foster carers and the positive impact they have on the lives of children and young people in care.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.     Approved uplift to fostering Skills Payment at 5% increase with effect from 01/04/26.  

2.     Considered and approved increasing mileage rate paid to internal foster carers from 0.45 per mile to £0.55 per mile from 01/04/26 as per the change in government agreed figure.  

3.     Considered and approved increasing amount of mileage that can be claimed, removing the requirement for foster carers to deduct the first 30 – 70 miles weekly before claiming mileage. To commence from 01/04/27.  

4.     Considered and approve paying approved carers beyond our Care Plus rate (£640.50 with uplift), with an additional Skills payment of £250 per week for first 12 months as part of Belonging and Stable Homes Scheme, where a child is assessed to need residential care, and support work has been completed by the team around the child, and the child is ready for a family care arrangement. This payment is to incentivise Foster Carers to transition children from residential care into supportive, stable homes and recognises the skill and commitment required during settling period.  

5.     Approved the proposal to pay annual National Trust Membership for up to 100 Fostering households

6.     Considered and approved offering free parking to Shropshire Foster Carers at all our council parking venues. This is difficult to cost as this would reflect a small reduction in council income as opposed to direct cost. Should this be something that Council are prepared to support in principle a further survey can be completed to gather more data for exact car parks used by each foster carer.