£5.5m Funding Shortfall Leaves Local Authorities Struggling To Cover Foster Carers’ Costs
A funding shortfall of £5.5 million per year is leaving Scottish local authorities struggling to cover the costs of fostering and condemning hundreds of foster carers to financial hardship, according to a report published by charity the Fostering Network. A survey of all 32 local authorities found that a further £5.5 million is needed each year in order to provide all foster carers with the Fostering Network’s recommended minimum allowances. These allowances are designed to cover the costs incurred by a foster carer in looking after a fostered child.
The results show that foster carers in two-thirds of local authorities are still receiving an allowance below the Fostering Network’s recommended minimum rate, meaning carers are having to spend their own money on a daily basis, or that their fostered children are being forced to go without.
Bryan Ritchie, director of the Fostering Network Scotland, said: “Our survey shows that an unacceptably large number of foster carers are still being expected to contribute to the cost of looking after a fostered child, causing thousands of foster carers to suffer continued financial hardship.
“The current situation forces many foster carers to dig deep into their own pockets to cover rent or mortgage costs which are often higher than average due to having larger homes to care for extra children. There are also travel expenses and the costs associated with running a bigger car, and expensive household bills.
“With a shortage of 1,700 foster carers in Scotland, this is hardly a way to attract more people to fostering. There would be an outcry if we asked teachers to pay for text books out of their own money, so why is it acceptable to expect carers to cover the costs of fostering?
“The Adoption and Children Bill, about to receive its stage 1 debate, is the ideal opportunity for the Executive to agree this extra investment, and to introduce a system of national minimum allowances based on the Fostering Network’s rates. This would ensure all carers are able to look after fostered children without having to worry about expenses or continually having to pay out from their own pockets.”
There are over 3,460 children living in 2,200 foster carers in Scotland on any one day.
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in fostering, and exists to ensure that fostered children receive the highest standards of care.
