Fostering allowances in Wrexham

 

The minimum fostering allowances in Wales have been outlined in statutory guidance by the Welsh Government. Except the fostering assistance provided by Wrexham County Borough Council. The payment for younger children has been increased, but all other budgets are fixed because the funding for children ages 0-4 and 5 - 10 is higher than the already required allowance.

You'll see that we've divided the total cash received into a few categories: - money for gas, groceries, and clothing (personal, food, transport and household). The sums under other headings are offered for guidance only, except pocket money, which we ask you to send directly to the child or young person (or deposit into the children's savings account).

No additional allowances will be granted until a child has been designated as having special needs because they are meant to cover the total cost of caring for a child or young person, with the following exceptions:

An amount equal to one week's fostering in Wrexham allowance is due for each child housed in a foster home during a religious celebration, such as Christmas.

Birthday grant: For a child of that age, an amount equivalent to one week's fostering allowance will be given.

Holiday grant: Depending on the placement status, each foster child will get up to two weeks' worth of fostering allowances. Financial Assistance Form must be fully completed, including receipts.

Foster parents will receive payment the evening the kid or young person spends the night with them. When a kid is on a planned absence from the foster home, deductions may be made; this will impact the maintenance portion of the fostering allowance. The payment of clothing and pocket money will continue.

Every two weeks, payments are made in arrears. Sometimes there may be a delay in notifying children or young people of changes or movements, which could lead to overpayment. Foster parents are urged to send a check or discuss repayment conditions with the fostering service's finance officer. Every overpayment will be recovered or taken off of subsequent payments.

However, please let us know if additional expenses are being incurred for reasons other than what we consider the level of fostering agencies Wrexham allowances should provide.

Please talk this over with your supervising social worker, whatever the cause. Only after consultations with the Fostering Team Manager and the children +social's worker at the Corporate Parenting resource panel and upon receipt of a fully completed "Application for Financial Assistance Form" with the necessary permits attached can the Head of Service - Corporate Parenting approve discretionary payments.

Clothing, pocket money, and DLA spending records must be reported on the appropriate form and will be checked at supervision meetings with your Supervising Social Worker. When a child returns home, changes placements or the fiscal year comes to a close, whichever comes first, financial documents must be delivered to the Fostering Service finance office. Caregivers must ensure that the child acknowledges receiving pocket money and other payments when it is age-appropriate.

It is recognised that foster parents occasionally need help caring for their children during the day, such as while attending medical appointments.

Caregivers are urged to help one another whenever needed on a reciprocal basis to ensure continuity for the kids. Before making any arrangements, they must be discussed with your supervising social worker and approved by the team manager.

Before taking place, all arrangements for children determined to benefit from respite and day care provided by other foster parents must be approved by the Fostering Service and authorised by the Team Manager.

Please inform the Team Manager of the Fostering Service if foster parents offering respite care or daycare experience additional fees.