Since the launch of our campaign in May to recruit more foster carers with an unrivalled payment and benefits package, Hillingdon LBC has received 105 fostering enquiries, a 250% increase compared to the same period last year. In the first month alone, we saw a 275% increase in the number of enquiries.
Offering the most competitive package in London, our foster carers can now earn up to £1,500 per week and receive a 25 per cent reduction in council tax when looking after a child in care.
This also includes £1,000 off utility bills, a winter fuel allowance and a family Platinum Merlin pass. This equates to an annual salary of up to £72,000.
Hillingdon is the second largest of the 32 London boroughs, bordering Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, and is home to Heathrow Airport and Brunel University, London. Rated by Ofsted as 'outstanding', our experienced and dedicated fostering team provides practical and emotional support, plus all the necessary training and mentoring needed, to all our foster carers throughout their journey.
However, like most councils across the country, we've been affected by the national shortage of foster carers. There are currently 347 children in the council's care, but faced with a national foster carer shortage, we're campaigning to recruit our own dedicated carers to provide a loving, stable home for a child in need. This is against a backdrop of competing with neighbouring independent fostering agencies to attract foster carers.
Being a foster carer is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling opportunity to give a home to a child who needs it, work in a role where you can directly change the life of a child or young person and give back to the community. But we recognise that this does have a financial impact on those selfless individuals who want to offer their support.
During the development of a new strategy to recruit and retain foster carers it became clear through consultations with carers, social workers, children and young people that the previous payment structure did not adequately reflect the commitment and hard work of carers, nor did it help address cost of living pressures.
By introducing this generous payment and benefits package we hope to alleviate some of the financial pressures faced by carers and ensure they are supported.
Improving the recruitment and retention of foster carers has a potential cost saving of £462,000 in 2024/25 for the council, with a further saving of £1.3 million earmarked for 2025/26.
Our foster carers have welcomed the new package.
Rachel and Damian Slattery, from Hillingdon, began fostering a newborn baby with us last year. They said the new package had enabled them to buy what their foster child needs - such as a pushchair and car seat – with the Merlin pass allowing them to have days out together a family.
By highlighting the experiences of our carers we're aiming to raise their profile, recognise the significant role they play and encourage others who may be interested in fostering to come forward. This is alongside acknowledging the dedication and commitment of our foster carers in providing safe, stable and nurturing environments for children to grow and thrive.
Our Foster Carer Appreciation Event in October honoured carers with a combined total of 120 years' fostering experience. Awards for five, 10, 15 and 25-years' service were presented by Emma Kavanagh, our Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting and Fostering. These carers are the foundation of our fostering community and together have positively impacted the lives of so many children.
We are committed to providing alternative, high-quality care for children within a family environment which enables them to fulfil their potential and improve their outcomes by making them feel safe and valued. We want children to grow up in a loving and stable environment and work hard to ensure the effective matching of the child to the carer's skills and experience to enable the full range of the child or young person's needs to be met.
This new payment and benefits package, designed to ensure carers are supported more effectively and able to provide the best for the child in their care, is already having a positive impact with more people coming forward to find out about fostering with us.
For more information, and to watch our latest video of Rachel and Damian's experience, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fostering
Julie Kelly is Hillingdon LBC's corporate director of children's services
