Agenda and minutes

Special, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education - Thursday, 7th December, 2023 3.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - The Guildhall, Portsmouth. View directions

Contact: Karen Martin, Tel: 023 9284 1704 Email: karen.martin2@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Webcast: View the webcast

Media

Items
No.	Item
22.	Apologies Minutes: None.
23.	Declarations of Members' Interests Minutes: None.
24.	Fostering Allowance - One-off payment to eligible carers PDF 124 KB View the background to item 24. Purpose of report The purpose of the report is to provide the Cabinet Member with an update on the proposal to provide a one off payment to carers in 2023/24. RECOMMENDED - that the Cabinet Member approves the one off payment to eligible carers as set out in the report. Additional documents: APPENDIX A 2023-24 , item 24. PDF 126 KB Minutes: Mark Jowett, Head of Looked After Children, introduced the report and informed members that although there is a strong fostering community in Portsmouth, nationally foster carer shortages are deepening. A review of remuneration levels to reflect the high quality care foster carers offer is underway and expected to be implemented from 7 April 2024. This is later than originally expected due to the need for the policy to be consulted on and this one-off payment is to be paid to eligible foster carers whilst the new rates are being finalised. The one-off payments are expected to be made from 18 December 2023. Members' questions None. Members' comments The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Councillor Suzy Horton thanked officers for the report and highlighted the importance of undertaking a full evaluation as part of the new remuneration review. She commented that she wanted to acknowledge how valued foster carers are across the city. DECISIONS - The Cabinet Member approved the one off payment to eligible carers as set out in the report.