Consultation of Professional Fee Payments 2014
Aim
1. Establish a career – Carers are showing a concern about a lack of
available placements. If carers do not have a placement they do not
have an income coming in regularly from Fostering. Suggestion that
carers are given a retainer or similar when not being used through no
fault or request of their own. No regular income plus no career.
 Not having a placement impacts on any benefits that carers receive
eg having to claim jobseekers allowance and be actively seeking
employment. After 6 weeks of being vacant problems also arise if
you are claiming tax credits, or housing benefits etc.
 Most carers have given up their employment/career to enable them
to foster as per the LA policy to have one carer at home. In doing this
they also give up their own family’s financial security and their career
prospects other than fostering.
 Paperwork/feedback from stat visits, annual reviews etc not
forthcoming in a timely manner, how is this being fair and
transparent. Carers have suggested a duplicate type book for
“minutes” so that this can be signed on the day by all concerned and
then typed up more formally.
 How will we be able to gain the evidence for our own “Professional
Fees Payment” progression when some other professionals are not
contributing with feedback now.
 Phone calls/communication not being returned by SW’s. Both child
care teams and Supervising SW’s, although this seems to be the same
particular workers. Other workers are working professionally with us
so we should not tar all with the same brush.
2. No revised financial payment structure included or discussed.
Objectives
4. To remember that carers have “stuck” with very challenging children and YP
for often many years only for it to break down eventually but no thanks given
for the years that they have managed to “stick” with the child.
New Arrangements
8. Many carers were offended with the last paragraph. Carers have read this as
though being a carer for a long time you have not gained the competencies
required for a level three carer, even though they would have had to attend
training/support groups etc. If the LA believe that this is not so this should
have been discussed at the carers Annual Review, although non attendance
should be supported when there are genuine reasons why some carers have
not been able to attend events.
Feelings were that the majority of children in care have complex needs from
very young children to the older teenager. We cannot always manage some
behaviours on our own and this needs to be addressed within the LA,
remember that we live this life 24 hours a day often with very little practical
support and help for either ourselves or the young person. That we ourselves
become ill and find we have to manage often violent/aggressive youngsters on
our own with very little empathy and support for our own situation. That
carers often become more isolated because of some placements and friends
and family stay away for fear of becoming involved in a way that might lead to
an allegation or upset by the young person etc.
8.1 Principles
a. Does this mean that Professional Fee Level 1 carers will now receive a Fee.
d/h. Replies from Rebecca Sargent has shown an empathy towards carers who
have struggled with a placement breakdown and has tried to reassure carers
that a drop in Professional Fees level would be a rare result and would
definitely be in the minority. A written policy for our Fostering Handbooks
would need to be much clearer in order to reassure carers. Full information
when taking a new placement would help a carer to decide whether or not to
proceed with a potentially challenging placement and an agreed package put in
place, especially when YP is on the verge or has been excluded from school,
either as a part or full exclusion. Breakdowns are not usually about “Standards
of Care” or a lack of experience but about the YP wanting to move on to
“Greener Grass”. Quality, Sympathetic Support would be paramount in these
situations. Often the carer has had many months of difficulty, sometimes
years, and are themselves at the end of their tether.
It needs to be recognised that we are part of the Corporate Team around the
child/YP and situations should not be just for carers to manage.
Professional Fee Level 2
b. Attending a minimum of 50% support groups could be difficult as the events
are inconsistent across the county. Perhaps to say 5/6 a year as carers do
alternate area support groups and timings of support groups eg in the west the
support groups meet fortnightly.
d. Carers have asked for clarification on contact with birth parents/siblings,
does this mean just transporting children/YP or to facilitate contact
themselves. Also would a carer be penalised if there was a problem in
transporting children to and from school, for example not being offered a child
because the carer was unable to transport to school or contacts.
Professional Fee Level 3
d. Training (Attachment modules 3/4) is sometimes very difficult to attend for
different reasons, transport, fostering commitments, long days, family
situations and commitments etc. PACE has been very difficult to access, the
criteria to gain attendance on this training has been linked to the child/YP
being a subject of the psychology team being helped via their foster carers. 8
sessions is not only a great commitment in itself but our “family” commitments
are not in our control on occasions. Full days etc, and carers not being able to
do school/nursery runs etc. Some carers have expressed that they have waited
in excess of 12 months for this training. Leaving even young children with
another carer often causes them severe distress and trauma in itself, especially
children with attachment issues and childcare is often completely unavailable
or inaccessible and could be in the opposite direction to the training venue.
Perhaps there could be a pool of carers who would assist with childcare to help
another carer to attend training.
Some additional comments made
This document refers mainly to what is required of the foster carers, it makes
no reference to support of us or what could be expected/offered from the
department.
Instances of disagreements between the foster carer household and the dept
could have an adverse effect on our Annual Reviews which could lead to a
foster carer being downgraded a level.
Some carers have shown concerns that they will not be able to evidence their
practices or to “sell themselves” at an Annual Review etc.
Log books are sometimes very difficult to keep up to date especially when your
lives are very busy or you are dealing with a difficult situation or you are
generally feeling under par etc.
Pre-school placements will also be difficult to evidence the criteria as you don’t
meet many professionals who could back you up with appropriate feedback.
Contributing to care plans are often seen as a carer being difficult or
overstepping the role of being a foster carer, not being respected as another
professional. We should be valued and respected like any other professional
would like to be treated. Many professionals that we work with do not
actually understand what we do on a daily basis. Appointments etc are made
without any prior consultation or consideration to other commitments that we
may have. Sometimes trying to alter an appointment that has been booked
and arranged is incredibly difficult or carers are made to feel that they are not
very committed to the child/children.
Stat visit feedbacks are taking too long to be returned and often have been
returned with contradictions and conversations that did not take place etc.
Annual Review feedbacks are also taking too long to be returned for signing
and have incorrect information. If these documents were signed on the day it
would save confusion and relying on memory from months ago. If a carer tries
to have these adjusted it often becomes a battle which in turn creates mistrust
and frustration.
Better, clearer policy’s for all issues and situations. To use the Network to
contribute and consult during any changes or updating etc.
All allowances need to be broken down into %s so that carers know how their
allowances are calculated.
Annual Statement of Allowances to be clearer and defined as to how many
placements you have had with clear age range for income tax purposes (Self
Assessment) etc.
(Wendy to put together a specimen sample of what might be required as a
basis to work from)
A template for feedback from other professionals for our evidencing for
Professional Fees Payments to be put together or the use of an existing
formatted form to go onto the CFCN webpage for carers to print off when
required. For SW’s in particular a commitment that these forms will be filled in
when requested by a carer. (The request at the moment is often not
forthcoming or not chased up in time for our Annual Reviews)
A page from the logbook/health record book to be placed on the CFCN website
so that carers can print them off if no log book/health record is available. So
that carers do not fall behind with their record keeping.
A copy of the Fostering Handbook to be placed on the CFCN website.
A copy of children’s birth certificates to be sent to the carer when child is
placed, including all relevant paperwork asap. It is becoming increasingly
difficult to even register a foster child at the local GP’s or to open a bank
account without some formal ID.
A passport to be applied for as soon as a court hearing is finalised.
A written procedure for any grievances or complaints from a carer to be
written and placed in our Fostering Handbook. A professional route similar to
those that belong to a trade union or another similar body. With timescales
for replies and resolving any issues before going on to the next higher level.
Equipment for a particular childs needs to be met by the LA. Carers cannot be
held responsible for all outlays for the age ranges of the children that they may
be offered. Clearer financial aid for children who are placed without adequate
and appropriate clothing to be a part of the immediate care plan or in the
instance of an emergency placement a written acknowledgement from the
placing worker. If this is difficult to arrange a short text message or email
would be acceptable to confirm these arrangements.
Suggestion that the Foster Carer Progression Panel should consist of two foster
carers, one who has had over 20 years experience as a foster carer and
another who has had at least 5 years experience as a foster carer. This would
help to balance the understanding of fostering and the commitment to the
children.
A suggestion also that maybe all carers receive the same amount for a
Professional Skill Level each week of the year. That long serving carers receive
a substantial financial award twice a year for their commitment.
A recommendation that once a placement has been mutually matched and
agreed upon but the child/YP is not yet in the care system for whatever
reason, eg awaiting court process decision or agreement from the Care and
Resource panel the carer should be paid an appropriate retainer while waiting.
If waiting for a family this should be a pro rata payment. This should include
unborn babies where the carer has been identified.
For all the payment structures to be agreed upon now and not to wait for
another year. The 2007 payment structure was only to be for two years and
then to be updated regularly in line with inflation and on a par with the
residential workers. Foster carers have over the last 6+ years been the ones
who have had to finance the under payments for those children placed in
order that they have not been penalised for being in the care system.