Plymouth fostercare's payment for skills scheme

Plymouth City Council has a 'payment for skills' career ladder with four payment levels. Foster carers can progress through the levels as they develop their skills and care for children with more complex needs.

The maintenance allowance for foster carers on Band 2 is higher than both the national minimum allowances set by the government and reflects the recommended allowances set by the Fostering Network. Maintenance allowances for Bands 2, 3 and 4 are significantly higher than the Fostering Network's recommendations.

The following tables provide an overview of the payment levels. The full criteria for each level are published as an appendix to the Foster Carer Payments and Allowances booklet, which can be downloaded below.

Band 1

Newly approved foster carers and those approved to look after a specific child.

Maintenance: Weekly maintenance allowance, paid per child
Reward: Weekly reward payment, paid once per household

Band 2

Foster carers with one or more years experience who meet specific criteria including completion of the Children's Workforce Development Council Standards for Foster Carer Training, Support and Development and attendance on core training courses from our training programme.

Maintenance: Weekly maintenance allowance, paid per child
Reward: Weekly reward payment, paid once per household

Band 3

Experienced foster carers with the skills, knowledge and experience to work with most children who are in care. At least one carer in the household must not ordinarily have any other paid/unpaid employment. They will be active in developing and maintaining their skills through training and where appropriate, will be willing to take on other activities such as support work, running support groups and helping with the training of other carers. Band 3 carers need a minimum of three years experience of fostering or other relevant experience in a childcare setting.

Maintenance: Weekly maintenance allowance, paid per child
Reward: Weekly reward payment, paid once per household

Band 4

Specialist foster carers with the ability to care for children with extremely challenging behaviours, severe attachment issues, a background of chronic neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse or high dependency needs. Foster carers on all payment bands may be expected to care for children with some level of special needs. However, Band 4 foster carers will be expected to manage much greater levels of risk, complexity and multiple special needs.

Maintenance: Weekly maintenance allowance, paid per child
Reward: Weekly reward payment, paid once per household

Notes

• An annual loyalty bonus is paid, plus a range of additional payments to cover expenses such as birthdays, festivals, holidays and school uniform. The Foster Carer Payments booklet provides full details of all payments to foster carers.
• Band 3 carers will only receive the weekly reward payment when children are placed. One reward payment will be payable regardless of the number of children placed
• Full-time Band 4 foster carers will receive the weekly reward payment of £411 whether or not a child is placed. Please see the Foster Carer Payments Booklet in the documents table below for conditions

Useful documents

Foster Care payments and allowances booklet [235KB]