Fostering households will receive a new package of support and rewards, to help recruit, and retain, more of the foster carers who do so much to improve the lives of children in care.
At a meeting of Ealing Council’s decision-making cabinet last week, a series of financial incentives for new and existing foster carers were agreed. The measures include increased allowances, council tax exemptions and free parking permits. This is the latest in a series of actions the council is taking in an effort to boost the number of in-house foster carers in the borough to provide local homes for children in care.
Councillor Josh Blacker, the council’s cabinet member for a fairer start, said: “Our local carers do an incredible job, supporting some of our children and young people when they are most vulnerable. But, sadly, we just don’t have enough of them for the number of children who need their help.
“I’m delighted we are able to announce this new support for foster carers. Fostering recruitment and retention is a national challenge and particularly acute in Ealing. We believe that every child in our borough deserves to get the best start in life, and for those who are in our care we must do everything we can to ensure that they get the best possible care close to home.
“We know that if we can place a child with one of our own local foster carers, it will provide them with greater stability and continuity through maintaining links with their community. It will enable children to continue to attend their school or nursery, see their friends and family, and continue to access local health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), or youth services.
“That’s why we are committing to a range of benefits and incentives to help realise our ambition to significantly increase the number of local foster families, and provide more support for our existing carers to acknowledge the pivotal role they play in the community.”
More money and benefits
In 2021 the Fostering Network conducted a survey across the UK and found that the cost of living crisis has had a significant impact, with 59% of UK foster carers saying that their fostering allowance and expenses did not meet the full costs of looking after their fostered child. The research also showed that the pressures within the system, and the lack of availability of foster families, can result in poorer outcomes for children with some living great distances from family, friends and school or being separated from their siblings.
In our borough, the council has listened to in-house foster carers and responded by launching a new programme focused on recruiting and retaining foster carers registered directly with the council who will now benefit from an increase in their fostering allowance and a new package of financial, practical and emotional support.
The new package includes:
- an increase in foster carers’ weekly payments of 18.5% (for Bands 1-3, available from 1 January 2025)
- foster carers who live in the borough will no longer have to pay council tax (available for those who have reached Band 2 from April 2025)
- existing Ealing carers who live outside of the borough, will be reimbursed the equivalent to their council tax payment
- a new parking permit for foster carers allowing free parking in designated residents’ controlled parking zones (CPZs) borough-wide (available from April 2025)
- complimentary garden waste collection for foster carers living within borough with free fortnightly collection of their cut grass, plant and hedge trimmings.
- enhanced support for carers through the council’s clinical psychology service, including individual support and support groups
- a new partnership with NOW Foster to recruit weekend respite carers to provide additional caring relationships for children in care and give existing foster families some respite from caring
- creation of a new Mockingbird constellation programme, this is a hub of connected fostering households who provide mutual emotional and practical support
Councillor Josh Blacker added: “Foster carers are ordinary people who provide something extraordinary to the children they look after. There is no typical foster carer, we need carers from all walks of life. If you have thought about fostering, know someone who might be suitable or just want to find out more I would urge you to get in touch with our friendly fostering team.”
Get in touch
Visit Ealing Fostering and Adoption to find out more about the next information session, or complete an enquiry form and the team will call you back. Alternatively, you can give the team a call on 0800 731 6550, or email fosteradopt@ealing.gov.uk
