The meeting focused on post-18 arrangements for young people staying with former foster carers, including discussions about practical implementation, support systems, and financial considerations across different regions. Participants explored various challenges in fostering practices and staying put arrangements, particularly regarding fee structures, local authority involvement, and regional variations in support. The group addressed the importance of comprehensive support for looked-after children and care leavers, including housing, financial, and practical guidance, while highlighting the need for better practice examples and direct relationships between providers and local authorities.
Post-18 foster care support
The group discussed post-18 arrangements for young people staying with former foster carers, focusing on practical implementation and support for foster carers. A member shared an experience where a university student's foster carers were able to maintain a bedroom for him, though they faced challenges claiming the staying put allowance. The discussion highlighted the importance of maintaining a safe home environment for young people returning from university. Unite Foundation's free accommodation for care leavers could provide a useful safety net. The group also explored the possibility of foster carers serving as personal advisors.
Regional foster care supervision differences
Possible regional differences in fostering practices between the north and south of England were discussed, noting that local authorities in the south may be more willing to fund Staying Put arrangements, while the north experiences less involvement with IFAs and more challenges with local authority requirements. Foster carers in the south may sometimes transfer to local authority supervision for post-18 care, which can lead to difficulties in maintaining registration and payment issues. Success stories of managing Staying Put arrangements in England were shred, including cases of therapeutic support and out-of-area placements. The Scottish system of dual registration was discussed, where foster carers can be assessed as supported carers by local authorities for additional financial support and services, while still being supported by their original agency.
Foster care financial challenges
The group discussed challenges in fostering and Staying Put arrangements, particularly focusing on financial issues. A view was shared that fostering fees in London are insufficient, with a need to structure fees based on local housing allowance tables. Confusion over financial packages and unclear guidance may make foster carers reluctant to participate. It was suggested that young people in Staying Put should be exempt from housing benefit requirements, as the government is still funding their accommodation.
Fostering Fees and Staying Put
In their new contract starting next year, Hampshire is considering adopting an approach based on local housing allowance tables and filtered through to other costs, though it would take longer to implement for existing placements. Local authorities recognising care as a protected characteristic has helped in challenging local offers and securing support. Concerns were raised about some local authorities requesting IFAs to provide tenancy agreements for Staying Put arrangements, which was seen as unusual and potentially treating young people as others.
Fostering fee and allowance disparities
Inconsistencies in fostering fee payments and local housing allowance rates across different local authorities were discussed. Some local authorities continue to pay full fostering fees until the end of the academic year, despite the young person turning 18.
Supporting the needs of children in care
The importance of providing comprehensive support to looked-after children and care leavers was discussed, emphasising that housing is just one aspect of their needs. One IFA had created a live spreadsheet containing resources on life skills, money management and safety, and suggested that foster carers and young people need guidance on practical matters such as handling emergencies.
