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Complaints of Children in care

To help families cope financially with the costs of fostering, allowances are paid to the carers. These are called Fostering or Boarding Out Allowances and are paid for each child fostered. They increase with the age of the child and it is expected that this should cover the expenses of looking after the child.

There are often separate clothing allowances and normally a bonus payment at the time of the child’s birthday, to cover treats. National minimum guidelines are set each year by the Fostering Network charity, but there is no legal obligation for local authorities or independent agencies to keep to these amounts. Fostering payments do not affect a family’s ability to claim other benefits, such as family tax credits, but any additional incentive payments (sometimes offered by private agencies) need to be declared to the local benefits office. Recently, there have been changes to tax allowances and state pension requirements, providing extra financial protection for foster carers.

Children in care come from a variety of cultures, ethnic groups and religions and the government is particularly concerned that this heritage should be valued. Care services try to match children with carers from similar groups, or with other fosterers who can help them meet any special requirements, such as attendance of religious services and particular dietary restrictions. There is a shortage in foster carers from non-white ethnic backgrounds but efforts are being increased to recruit from these groups.

Children in care have also been identified as a group who underachieve academically. Their education is likely to have been disrupted, as a result of traumatic events at home, relocation and changing schools, coping with the idea of being in foster care and living away from their family, or behavioural or psychological difficulties. There is a government campaign to improve the educational achievements of these children so that they have the best start in life when they leave the care system. This also involves combating the social exclusion and stigma experienced by many children in care and in their later lives.

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