Fees paid to foster carers in the Highlands look set to rise
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FEES paid foster carers in the Highlands could increase substantially under plans to be discussed by Highland councillors on Monday.
Under the current system, foster carers are paid a weekly fee of £134 per household irrespective of the number of children in their care.
Councillors will be asked to approve plans to pay a fee per child and increase the present fee by 20 per cent to £160 from January 1
The weekly fostering fees in neighbouring Moray are £165 per week,
There are currently 112 children and young people in Highland Council’s foster care service and it is anticipated the proposals which represent an investment of £500,000, would help to increase the number of available placements in Highland by up to 20.
In turn, this would reduce the need to buy more expensive placements from the independent fostering sector.
A council spokesman said: “Foster care is key to the council being able to provide high quality care for children in their local communities at a very challenging time in their lives.
“Research demonstrates when children and young people receive good consistent care which is nurturing, long standing and where they can build relationships that make them feel loved, valued and accepted, this will enable better outcomes for them in the future and into adulthood.”
In the last year, 42 children returned to Highland or were able to stay in the area, avoiding costs of over £6 million.
