Foster carers in Flintshire could be offered 50 per cent council tax discount to encourage more to come forward

Foster carers in Flintshire could be offered a 50 per cent reduction in their council tax bill as part of a bid to encourage more people to provide a stable home for children. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It comes as senior politicians are looking to tackle the rising cost of paying for private foster carers, who are often located outside the county. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The latest figures published show the local authority provided out of county placements for more than 150 children in the last financial year, which resulted in an overspend of almost £1.4m. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Chief executive Colin Everett said it was hoped that by offering an incentive, it will increase the number of foster carers in Flintshire and result in savings. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

According to the council’s projections, the £92,000 cost of offering the discount could be recouped if just three children are placed with in-house foster carers for 12 months. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Everett said: “We’ve got a really good track record of recruiting and retaining foster carers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This is something we’re quite keen to offer to make foster care much more cost effective for families. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“They use their own home as a secure place for people to be supported, so we think it’s a good initiative. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“One of the challenges for us with social care is the more you commission out, the more the market has control of rates. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We’re trying to to keep a balance of direct and indirect foster carers.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Members of the ruling Labour cabinet will be presented with three options when they consider the scheme on Tuesday. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They will be asked to consider where to provide a council tax reduction of either 25, 50 or 75 per cent for foster carers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A 50 per cent discount has been identified as the preferred option, in line with similar incentives offered elsewhere. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If approved, the initiative would be introduced from April next year. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Christine Jones, Flintshire’s cabinet member for social services, said: “Support is needed to encourage people into local authority foster care and this is a really good initiative. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The benefits for the family are evident, but there are advantages for the council also.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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