Foster panel could receive higher fees

A group responsible for recruiting new foster carers in Monmouthshire could receive higher fees in a bid to retain members with caseloads continuing to rise.

Allowances granted to the Monmouthshire Fostering Panel have been found to be “out of line” with payments made to panel members in other authorities and independent fostering agencies.

The panel is made up of a chair, vice chair, five independent members, two social workers and a Monmouthshire councillor.

Currently the panel chair – and vice chair if deputising – receives £275 in expenses per half day session, with the vice chair and other panel members receiving £30 per half day session.

But panel chairs in Newport, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent are all given £300 in expenses for attending meetings, with rates varying by authority for other panel members.

A council report says: “Recruiting to panel members is not an easy task and there is competition between agencies.

“Panel members are aware of the fees and expenses offered by other agencies and have raised this as an issue.

“The increased numbers of child protection and court work within the service has placed additional pressure on the panel.”

The report continues: “The success of the fostering project in attracting generic carers to look after Monmouthshire children, whilst welcomed, also adds to the numbers of cases needing to go to panel.

“Having sufficient panel members to ensure that panels are quorate and can operate effectively is, therefore, critical to children’s services.”

Proposals include increasing the allowances of the panel chair in Monmouthshire to £300 per session.

The vice chair could be in receipt of the highest increase – £150 per session, a rise of £120 – while other independent members could receive £75 per session plus mileage.

This would cost the authority an extra £9,910 a year to pay the current membership for 18 half day panels.

The report warns that if current expenses remain in place, members could move to other panels for greater reward and foster carer recruitment could be delayed.

Councillor Phil Murphy, cabinet member for resources, will consider the report next week.