Fostering allowances

Pay structure

This is the pay structure for foster carers which has age-based weekly allowances.

This is for all full time mainstream foster carers and connected carers (Kinship/Family and Friends)

Weekly allowances for Torbay Foster Carers

Short term

This is the kind of care that most of our foster carers provide. Children stay with them for anything from a few days, to a few months to over a year.

Emergency

Sometimes a child will need to be moved from their home suddenly as a result of unexpected circumstances or if it has come to light that they have been victims of neglect or abuse. Emergency placements may be for as little as one night while a more permanent place to stay is found.

Long term

Children remain in long term foster care when a court rules that they cannot go back to live with their birth parents. If adoption is unlikely (they may be considered too old to adjust or have no wish for a new family) long term fostering is often the best solution. One or more children from the same family can stay with the same foster carer until they reach adulthood. Children in long term care remain our responsibility and their carers are not able to make decisions about their future.

Short breaks, Stay Over/Respite

People who work full-time and who are not available to care for a child during the week can make a valuable contribution by becoming respite foster carers. They will usually provide weekend or holiday care for children whose parents may need a break or for other foster carers.

Respite carers typically look after children with physical or learning disabilities, or those who are experiencing difficulties at home and need time out. They may have a child to stay overnight at weekends a couple of times a month on a regular basis and are able to build a relationship with that child over time.

The process for becoming a respite carer is the same as for all other foster carers