Decision details

The Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services to:

1. APPROVE the proposed changes to the rates payable and charges levied for Children’s Services in 2025-26.

2. NOTE both the changes to the rates that are set by the Government/external agencies: Inter-agency charges and Essential Living Allowance and; any charges to other Local Authorities for use of in-house respite residential beds are to be calculated on a full cost recovery basis.

3. DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education, , totake relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contracts or other legal agreements, as required, to implement the decision

Background:

This decision revises the rates payable and charges levied by this Council for Children’s Social Care Services from 1 April 2025

The recommendation report will distinguish between those rates and charges over which Members can exercise their discretion, and those which are laid down by Parliament.

The rates payable and charges levied for Children’s Services are reviewed annually, with any revisions normally introduced from the start of the new financial year.

Some of the increases are directly linked to the published Department for Education fostering rates, which are reviewed by the Department annually

The proposed decision supports both the key priority of “Levelling up Kent” and “New Models of Care & Support” within the ‘Framing Kent’s Future (2022-26)’. Along with “Securing Kent’s Future – budget recovery strategy”.  Recruitment and retention of our in-house foster and support offer and providing appropriate financial support to our permanency arrangements is crucial in developing and sustaining cost effective placements options for our vulnerable children. Along with supporting families to support children through the use of Direct Payments to be as independent of greater state support. Funds are included as part of the draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2025-28.

As Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, I agree to:

a)      

i.      The weekly Foster Care Maintenance allowance is increased to:

ii.     The weekly Foster Care Reward element is increased to:

iii.   The weekly Foster Care Disability Enhancement is increased to:

iv.   The weekly Foster Care Skills Based Payment is increased to:

v.     The weekly Emergency Foster Carer Retainer payment is increased to:

vi.   The one-off payment to Emergency Foster Carers towards additional essentials for newly arrived unaccompanied asylum seeking children:

vii.  The hourly Sessional & Day Care payments increase to:

viii.         The rates for Mockingbird Hub Home Carer payments to be set at:

ix.   The sessional rate for Kent Fostering Panel attendance:

x.     The Foster Carer Mileage Rate will remain at 45p per mile in line with KCC staff.

xi.   The adoption hospitality allowance for foster carers will be set at £25.00 per day.

xii.  The additional rates for the Step Across to Fostering Scheme to be set at:

xiii.         The Kent Supported Homes (Supporting Lodging payments to hosts) is increased to:

*LHA – Local Housing Authority

**Various – the rate will depend on circumstances and agreed in line with the Staying Put policy.

b)    Updates to the Kent Fostering Payment Policy for 2025-26, an overarching policy document to set out all foster payments.

c)    NOTE: The rates which are dictated by external agencies i.e. Inter-agency charges and Essential Living Allowance

d)    DELEGATE:

Authority to the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education, or other nominated officers, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision.