Good Practice

• The Authority operates a banded payment system with approximately 10 per cent on Band 3 and 40 per cent on Band 2, which are fee paying.
  
• New foster carers have a clear career path to achieve fee paying status.
  
• Foster carers who are paid fees are expected to undertake 6 hours work per week beyond the fostering role. This may be to support the Children who Foster group, the Children's Rights group or to work directly with families. This integrates them into the department as a whole.
  
• A well developed Foster Care Association linked to the National Foster Carers Association, providing support to its members. The Authority pays membership fees.
  
• Foster carers have excellent access to training including NVQ - some foster carers are assessors/internal verifiers.
  
• Foster carers have access to 24 hour support, either through the more 'senior' members of the Association or through the residential service. Members of the Fostering Team are also accessible and there are excellent relationships with the police.
  
• Foster carers are involved in developing policy and procedures through working groups.
  

Benefits

• Very stable placements - less than 4 per cent of children had 3 or more placement changes in the year compared with an England average of 12 per cent
  
• Above average numbers of children with health checks up to date
  
• Low numbers of children placed out of authority
• Good numbers of children in family placements
  
• Little use of Independent Fostering Agencies, such that the unit cost for fostering is average despite paying fees to Band 2 and 3.