www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Fostering - frequently asked questions
Index of Content
- Why do children need to be fostered?
- What kind of children are fostered?
- How can I find out more about fostering a child?
- Will I get paid for looking after a child?
- What’s involved in a home visit?
- What training would I receive?
- As a foster carer, what kind of support will I get?
- What are the different fostering schemes?
- What is private fostering?
- Contact Details
Why do children need to be fostered?
There are many reasons why children need looking after by foster carers, including parents experiencing stress in their lives, ill health, family breakdown, relationship difficulties and abuse or neglect of childrens needs etc.. the family situations are usually complex and there are often several factors which affect the parent’s ability to continue caring for their children.
What kind of children are fostered?
Children and young people from many different backgrounds and with a variety of individual needs are fostered. We need carers who can care for children from birth through to the teenage years. Some children may special care needs due to their ill health, behavioural issues or disabilities. We are particularly seeking foster carers from diverse ethnic backgrounds so that we can match children with carers whose backgrounds better reflect their own.
How can I find out more about fostering a child?
The best ways to find out more is to ask for an information pack, explore the websites, see useful links, and speak with professionals and foster carers who are involved in providing the service. You can request a visit from us if you wish to take your enquiry further after receiving written information.
Will I get paid for looking after a child?
We pay fostering allowances at the rate suggested by The Fostering Network. These age related allowances are calculated to cover the cost of looking after a child in your own home and to ensure that no one is out of pocket when looking after a Wiltshire child. The current minimum weekly allowances for fostered children, from April 2008 (2007 rates in brackets):
Outside London
- Age 0-4: £121.10 (£118.58)
- Age 5-10: £137.97 (£135.10)
- Age 11-15: £171.71 (£168.21)
- Age 16+: £208.88 (£204.54)
In addition to allowances which are paid to all foster carers, a range of fee are paid according to their skill, knowledge and experience. See below. Payments are for per child per week.
Level 1 Fee - See age related allowances above.
Level 2 Fee - £55.16
Level 3 Fee - £110.32
Level 4 Fee - £179.69
Level 4 Retainer - £104.30
For carers assessed at Level 4 a retainer is payable for periods when a child is not placed. You are also entitled up to 4 weeks holiday pay at the retainer rate.
For Bail and Remand carers a combined weekly rate of £388.36 is payable per young person. In addition a retainer of £166.46 is payable for periods when a child is not placed. You are also entitled up to 4 weeks holiday pay at the retainer rate.
Please note that a carer must be available at all times for Level 3, 4 and Bail and Remand Schemes.
A home visit is essential for the fee paid schemes in order for us to assess whether the potential foster carers are suitable to apply for a specific scheme. For details of the different options available please contact us.
What’s involved in a home visit?
We like to visit you and your partner (if you are in a relationship), at home and talk with you about what you can offer a child. We need to know that your home is suitable and that you have skills and qualities that will enable you to support the child. This is your opportunity to ask questions of us and explore any concerns you may have.
What training would I receive?
We have a full range of training courses available to carers from one day workshops on child protection to the NVQ 3 Health and Social Care programme. All carers are expected to participate in training and will be encouraged to do so by their supervising social workers.
As a foster carer, what kind of support will I get?
One of your main sources of support will be your supervising social worker who will be in regular contact with you to offer advice, support and ensure that children are receiving a good quality of care whilst they are being looked after by the local authority. Other professionals involved in caring for the child will also have a role in supporting you. We also run support groups and social activities for foster carers which many people find helpful.
What are the different fostering schemes?
Find below a brief outline of the payment for skills scheme.
Level 1 - Newly approved carers will usually be paid at Level 1 unless they have skills and experience to care for young people with more complex needs. Funding maybe available to cover any additional costs.
Level 2 - Carers can apply to be assessed at Level 2 once they have gained direct fostering experience.
Level 3 - Carers will have considerable experience and skills in looking after children and a level of self-confidence which enables them to accept some placements known to present more difficulties than others. One carer must available at all times.
Level 4 - A high level of skills and experience either from fostering or from working directly with children. Usually this will involves providing care for teenagers or young people with complex needs or challenging behaviours. One carer must be available at all time.
Bail and Remand - These foster carers offer mainly short term or emergency placements to young people aged 10 - 17 years who are involved in offending. They may be subject to police or court bail.
What is private fostering?
This is an arrangement whereby a child’s parent or relative asks other people to care for the child. Although, the carers are not ‘approved foster carers’ the local authority is responsible for ensuring that a child who is privately fostered is visited regularly by a social worker to ensure that they are being looked after well. For more details please click here
Contact Details
Chippenham Family Placement Team
357 Hungerdown Lane
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN14 0UX
Tel: 01249 444321
Fax: 01249 445959
Email: fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk
Salisbury Family Placement Team
Riverside Centre
Churchfields Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 7NH
Tel: 01722 333552
Fax: 01722 422052
Email: fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk
Trowbridge Family Placement Team
Trowbridge Resource Centre
Rutland Crescent
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 0NY
Tel: 01225 752198
Fax: 01225 775334
Email: fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Hand
You can deliver items/posts by hand at any of the 3 locations shown above.
Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday from 8:45am - 5pm
Friday from 8:45am - 4pm
The offices are closed for lunch from 1 - 2pm and at weekends.
