A chartered tax adviser gives advice on the financial help available to foster carers of children with additional needs As a chartered tax adviser I have had a couple of clients with income from fostering. Mainly that was if they also had self employed income, or their partners were working. I had previously worked for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), so even though it was not part of my remit or client care package, I always liked to make sure that clients knew about any state benefits or funding they could be entitled to. I had always assumed that the clients’ social worker would put them on the right track to claiming any state benefits but was most surprised when I found out that this was not necessarily the case. Foster carers who looked after children with additional needs had been entitled to the extra fostering allowances, and social workers were aware of the criteria of awarding the extra allowances, but were often not aware that these allowances were independent of state benefits. The criteria were different for both, so social workers were often not telling carers of their full entitlements. It is always more challenging for a social worker to find foster care for a child whose health is not good. This is not only because the child themselves is more challenging, but many foster carers are also deterred because of the extra money it takes to look after these children. Although there is a fostering allowance available to carers of children with disabilities, not all children have a sufficient level of disability to qualify for the extra allowance. Social workers need to be aware therefore, that there is state help available for children with additional needs. Just because the child’s problems do not qualify for the extra fostering allowance does not mean that this state help is unavailable. What are foster parents entitled to? Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is available to parents as well foster carers of children who have problems. There are two different components to the benefit:
As well as the child being entitled to DLA care component, the foster carer can claim carer’s allowance of £66.15 per week. There is an earnings limit of £123 per week. For these purposes a fostering allowance does not count as earnings, so the foster carer can claim both fostering allowance and carer’s allowance. DLA and the additional fostering allowance do not have the same qualifying criteria. So a foster parent may be entitled to one or both of these extra payments. If the extra fostering allowance is payable for a child however, it is overwhelmingly likely that there would be an entitlement to both DLA and carer’s allowance. Example 1 Mark came to Andrea when he was four. His mother was an alcoholic and it is unclear at the moment whether or not he has foetal alcohol syndrome. He has a low attention span, and other behavioural difficulties. He suffers frequent urinary infections so his kidneys have been damaged. He is very small for his age, possibly due to neglect and malnutrition. He is not deemed disabled enough to qualify for the additional fostering allowance. Andrea needs to watch him more carefully than other children of similar age. He has a tenancy to run off and can strike other children or adults. It is unlikely that he will be toilet trained any time soon. She needs to not only consider his diet carefully and make sure that he not only eats the right things, but also make sure that he does in fact eat. Andrea spends a lot of time calming Mark and trying to stimulate him so that he can attend mainstream school. She claims the care component of DLA at the middle rate of £58.70 and carer’s allowance of £66.15. She uses this to provide extra activities for Mark. If a child is unable or virtually unable to walk, or has a severe mental impairment that qualifies for the higher rate of the care component, they will also qualify for the mobility component of DLA. A child qualifies if the exertion required to walk would constitute a danger to their health, or if their ability to walk is limited by distance, speed and length of time. Example 2 Rebecca fosters Katie, aged 12, who has cerebral palsy. She qualifies for the extra fostering allowance. She cannot feed herself, bathe or dress herself. She needs to be checked several times during the night in case she has got herself into a strange position. Katie wakes up several times during the night. Rebecca, in addition to the extra fostering allowance claims: Carer’s allowance of £66.15 DLA care component £87.65 DLA mobility component £61.20 It is normally the main carers of the child who would make the claim. However, if the child returns home regularly a suitable calculation about apportioning the DLA would be made. There are no conditions from the DWP about how the money should be spent, and it is not intended that the benefit should be saved for the child and given to them when they are older. In fact this could prevent them receiving means tested benefits in the future. Whilst social workers need not have a detailed knowledge of DLA and its qualifying conditions it would be beneficial for them to have a broad understanding that this is available, and it is available whether or not the placement qualifies for the increased fostering allowance. Lynne Thompson provides private client support to professional firms such as solicitors and accountants. She advises on private client tax matters, state benefits and care home funding. Source: www.communitycare.co.uk TACT are pleased to publish our 2019 annual review, offering some of the highlights of the past year from across TACT’s work throughout the UK. Source: www.tactcare.org.uk Care sector charities have welcomed cross-party commitment to deliver improvements after a review found the system in Scotland “serves its own convenience” and failures cost £875 million a year. The Independent Care Review, chaired by Fiona Duncan, looked into the economic and human cost of the system’s failures for the first time. It outlines a “radical blueprint for a country that loves, nurtures and cherishes its children.” Following Wednesday’s publication of the review, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged to “keep listening to and working with care-experienced people, because the case for transformational change is now unarguable.” Ms Sturgeon said she felt “very emotional” when reading the main premise of the report, adding: “The Scottish Government has already made some changes while the review has been doing its work — for example, by introducing the care-experienced bursary — but today’s report leaves no room for doubt that we must do more, and we must do it more fundamentally, more systematically and more quickly. “A radical overhaul is what the review demands, and that is what we have a duty to deliver.” 'The cross-party support in the chamber was jaw-dropping' Dundee-based charity Breakthrough partners care-experienced young people with trained volunteer mentors “to provide the guidance and opportunity that can transform lives.” A spokesperson for the charity welcomed the cross-party support the review received at Holyrood, saying: “That the First Minister accepted the findings of the review and made her own promise to implement the necessary level of change was positive; that she declared that tangible changes would be initiated ‘at pace’ on the back of the review was amazing — but the cross-party support in the chamber was jaw-dropping. “Breakthrough promises to work closely with others in schools and local authorities who have a parenting responsibility for young people and we will get behind collective change — however challenging or scary it may feel. “We will hold each other to account and we will always strive to do our best for our young people because they deserve it. It really is that simple.” Care groups welcome review Duncan Dunlop, chief executive of Who Cares? Scotland said what the Scottish Government chose to do next is a “matter of life or death”. He said: “Care experienced people are capable, thoughtful and have enormous potential. What we have seen, unfortunately, are generations of people living with the consequences of a care system that focused on containing them then leaving them, rather than ensuring that they are loved and supported forever. “We have also seen Scotland struggle to connect with how it can support care experienced people. With that in mind, we will now take the necessary time to reflect on the findings that have been published today and consider in what ways the recommendations realise our ambitions for change.” Mr Dunlop added: “In January this year, the Care Inspectorate published figures on the early deaths of care experienced people. They said that between 2012 and 2018, 36 people in the care of the state died unexpected or untimely death. “We know from our own networks that this is an under-representation, with six young care experienced people in our network dying in December 2019 alone. “The evidence shows that what the Scottish Government chooses to do next is literally a matter of life and death. We expect to see urgent action, in the next few weeks, that makes a tangible difference to young people’s lives. Any further delay would be unacceptable.” "We have long had concerns that children are not being put at the centre of our hearings system and are being let down, and believe changes to its operation are critical.” — Joanna Barrett, NSPCC Scotland Joanna Barrett, of NSPCC Scotland, said: “We are extremely heartened by this thorough and insightful analysis of our care system, with a wealth of important recommendations for its overhaul. “We have long had concerns that children are not being put at the centre of our hearings system and are being let down, and believe changes to its operation are critical. “We work with very young children in the care system and know that understanding early childhood development and behaviour is crucial to making the right decisions. And so, we are greatly encouraged that the review recognises the focus needed on this age group, which makes up the greatest proportion of those entering care. “It is now vital that there is the will and the resources for us all to work together in implementing these changes.” Drug addiction and care During the First Minister’s debate, Dundee-based MSP Jenny Mara asked how the national drugs task force would work to prevent parents with addictions succumbing to their illness and forcing children into care. She said: “Many Scots and children in Dundee find themselves in the care system because of a parent dying because of drugs. “Indeed, I heard of one such case just before Christmas. Is the national drugs task force looking specifically at what can be done to prevent drugs deaths among parents? What can be done to increase the number of supportive care places in areas with high numbers of drugs deaths?” The First Minister responded: “That should absolutely be a key focus of the drugs task force, although it has to decide its priority areas. “More importantly, we must make sure that there is a proper link between the work that we are doing here and in other areas of work, such as the work that is being done around drugs deaths. “Jenny Marra is right to point to the number of young people who will end up in care because a parent has died from drugs, so the connections between those vital pieces of work are important. “One of the key priorities of the work that will be done over the next few weeks in getting the process right is to make sure that those connections are properly understood and happen as we want them to.” 'Care Review ‘is a remarkable effort’ Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson, Iain Gray, said: “The First Minister is right that we have, over generations, let down far too many of the children in our care. “We can indeed hear that in this report in the voices of those children and that is why it carries such power. “Well done to the review chair Fiona Duncan, all her co-chairs and everyone involved. It is a remarkable effort. “And well done too to the First Minister whose personal investment in this issue is very clear and much to her credit. “I welcome the creation of the delivery plan team and agreement to the independent oversight body. “But it is not the process of change which must start immediately – it is actual change.” Speaking following the First Minister’s statement, Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr said: “Although we will always offer robust challenge, the First Minister can be assured of our support in delivering the recommendations of this ambitious and vital report. “Above all, I, too, extend our thanks to the more than 5,500 people who contributed—it cannot have been easy. “Young people in the care system need a great deal more than simply the best wishes of this chamber. They need concrete action to transform their lives for the better and to live up to the promise that I expect and hope that every party here will rightly make today.” Source: www.thecourier.co.uk Assistant Director (Yorkshire and East Midlands) Closing Date - 10th February 2020 Full Time 37.5 hours per week Salary Banding - £52,633.30 – 58,413.97 pa Team Fostering is an ethical, not-for-profit fostering agency with a strong reputation and track record for providing high quality, value for money fostering homes for looked after children. We pride ourselves on our values and we expect our staff to commit to and demonstrate these values in their everyday work.
We are looking for an outstanding and committed individual with substantial experience of providing services to looked after children to lead the provision and development of our fostering service in the Yorkshire and East Midlands region. You must understand the commercial drivers in today’s marketplace, the role of independent fostering providers and their working relationship with local authorities and be capable of successfully delivering new opportunities to enhance our agency. The post holder will act as the Registered Manager and be responsible for the day to day management of all aspects of the service provided by the regional office. Working as an integral member of the senior leadership team, you will have a sound knowledge of current legislation, including regulations, guidance and standards, and will work to promote our ethical not for profit status. As the ideal candidate you will have demonstrable experience of formulating and delivering business development strategies within an independent fostering agency and have the communication and engagement skills to challenge ideas and positively manage change. You will have a flair for influencing and negotiating in high pressure situations whilst building strong and lasting relationships with the ability to constructively lead, drive and influence internal and external stakeholders. You will be a person with the ability to provide insightful debate and recommendations to the Board through professional experience. Above all, you will have excellent leadership, strategic vision, communication and interpersonal skills and be hardworking, positive, and motivated to improve outcomes for looked after children. The post is based in Sheffield however you will be required to work flexibly across the Yorkshire and East Midlands region. There will also be a requirement to travel to our offices in the North East. For an informal chat about the post please contact Jane Butler, CEO on 0114 2617762. To apply, please follow the steps listed here. Please note Team Fostering does not accept CV’s. All posts require an Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Closing date: 9am on 10th February 2020 Interviews will be held on 28th February and 2nd March 2020 Please note if you are shortlisted for interview, we will contact you via the email you have provided. Please ensure you check your emails regularly. Thank you for your interest in Team Fostering and taking the time to apply for this position. Location: Edinburgh Salary: £33,561 + £1,500 Out of Hours Allowance + £500 Home Working Allowance (if applicable) Closing Date: 09/02/2020 Interview Date: 21/02/2020 Hours: 35 hours per week Office or Home Based (depending on location of successful applicant)
35 Hours Per Week TACT, the UK’s largest fostering and adoption charity now has over 500 dedicated carers, who look after over 600 children and young people across the country. Our reputation and growth rests upon our strength in providing successful placements. As a charity, we do not have shareholders who receive profits and we invest all of our surplus income into service, staff, carers, and children’s development. Our vision is to provide better lives for our children and young people. This is an exciting opportunity to be a Senior Supervising Social Worker within a national non-profit making organisation at a local level. We are interested in individuals for whom quality of service is paramount and in those who share our commitment to working in partnership with children and their foster carers in the development of the agency. TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package including:
Please see the Job Information Pack for further information. TACT Scotland are currently seeking a full time, enthusiastic and committed Senior Supervising Social Worker. The successful candidate will be supporting and supervising carers in the North Fife area so the ability to travel is required. The job can be offered as office or home based, depending on the location of the successful candidate. If you have substantial fostering experience and are looking for your next permanent position, this could be perfect for you. You will need to be DipSW, CSS or CQSW qualified and registered with SSSC. An enhanced PVG disclosure is also required and is requested for you by TACT. You will be required to be on an out of hours’ rota and you will be paid an out of hours’ allowance of £1,500 per annum once participating in the rota. Closing: Sunday 9th February 2020 Interviews: Friday 21st February 2020 at TACT Edinburgh (EH14 1TL) TACT reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Full details and application documents here |
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