Fostering in Aberdeenshire - Our fostering scheme
- Types of fostering
- Who are foster carers?
- What qualities do foster carers need?
- What does a foster carer do?
- What support do foster carers receive?
- How are foster carers paid?
- How do I find out more?
- What happens if I wish to become a foster carer?
Fostering in Aberdeenshire
Our social work service helps families care for their children at home. However, for a variety of reasons this is not always possible. At any one time there are a number of children, ranging from babies to teenagers, who need to be looked after away from home. There can be many reasons for this.
Sometimes there are problems at home and breakdowns in family relationships. Some children may be neglected or abused in other ways. There may have been a sudden family illness and there are no other relatives available to help out.
Some foster carers feel best suited to looking after a child at short notice when there is a crisis situation. Others prefer to offer care for a few days or weeks, while some prefer to care for a child for a few months or even years. The length of time a child stays with foster carers often depends on how soon the child can return to their family. Foster carers are also needed to offer regular weekend and/or holiday care.
Our social work service aims to help children return to their family as soon as possible. Sometimes it will not be possible for a child to ever live with their family again and they will remain in need of care until they can live independently. 
Our fostering scheme
Our fostering scheme has been introduced to deliver a high quality fostering service that will provide good outcomes for children who are fostered. It provides the opportunity for foster carers to have their skills and level of knowledge recognised by the four skills levels incorporated within the fostering scheme.
These four skills levels reflect the experience, training and skills of the foster carer. All new foster carers will be placed on level one of the scheme. They then have the opportunity to progress through each of the four skills levels, on completing identified competencies and core training modules.
Types of fostering
There are four categories of fostering:
Temporary care
Temporary foster carers look after children and young people for periods lasting from one day up to a number of months. Children may move back to their birth parents, but if this is not possible plans will be made for them to move from their temporary foster carers to more permanent placements.
Permanent care
Some children need a permanent foster carer when all attempts to return them to birth parents have not worked. Permanent foster care provides planned placements for children for a number of years, until they are able to live independently. This allows the child to grow up in a safe and supported family environment whilst generally having some contact with their birth family. Children who need this type of care are usually school age up to teenagers.
Respite care
Respite foster carers look after children for a few days, perhaps over a weekend or evening to support the child’s family or foster carer. Some families caring for children with disabilities welcome the opportunity for their child to be cared for in a safe and caring environment.
Emergency care
When a child needs to be accommodated out with office hours their care is provided by an emergency foster carer. Generally these will be families with experience of caring for children. The child can remain with the emergency carer for up to three days.
Who are foster carers?
Foster carers are ordinary people and, like the children they care for, come from a variety of backgrounds. They may be young 
couples, older experienced parents or single people. They may be working or unemployed. They may be living in rented accommodation or own their own homes. What they have in common is room in their lives and homes for children that need their care. Foster carers are needed throughout the Aberdeenshire area, in rural areas and in towns.
We are very keen to find families from all communities, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, who can care for children who need to be fostered.
What qualities do foster carers need?
Foster carers need to be warm, patient, understanding, flexible and have the ability to care for children safely. A sense of humour is essential.
What does a foster carer do?
- Provide a good standard of care for other people's children.
- Have an understanding of the difficulties parents face and be able to work closely with children's families and others who are important to the child.
- Work as part of a team with social work.
- Attend meetings and contribute towards making plans for the care of the child.
- Confidentiality must be respected at all times.
What support do foster carers receive?
As a foster carer you will have your own social worker who will visit you and your family regularly. They can offer you advice and will be available to talk to you about any problems you may encounter in fostering.
Any child placed with you will also have a social worker, whose role is to work with parents and foster carers in planning for the child, and who has overall responsibility for the child. The child's social worker will also make visits to your home. Assistance can be given if you need equipment or furniture to look after a child in your home.
As a foster carer you are encouraged to take part in training to increase your knowledge and skills and are also invited to attend the Foster Carers Support Group, which meets regularly.
How are foster carers paid?
All foster carers receive an allowance which covers day-to-day expenses caring for a child or young person. You will also receive a skills payment which recognises the level of knowledge and skills you bring to your role in providing care and support to Aberdeenshire’s children and young people.
Weekly fostering allowance
The allowance varies and is dependent on the age of the child. Allowances have been set at the rate recommended nationally by the Fostering Network.
The fostering allowance covers:
- General maintenance including food, accommodation and related costs
- Provision and replacement of clothing
- Pocket money
- Attendance at clubs, school and leisure activities
- Travel
| Age | Weekly allowance |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 years old | £121.68 |
| 5 to 10 years old | £138.61 |
| 11 to 15 years old | £172.55 |
| 16 + | £209.86 |
Skills payment
Our fostering scheme incorporates four skills levels, with each being linked to a skills payment.
The skills payment is paid on a four weekly basis. There is only one skills payment per household.
| Skill level | Annual payment |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | £7,500 |
| Level 2 | £11,250 |
| Level 3 | £15,000 |
| Level 4 | £23,711 |
How do I find out more?
For further information, or to discuss fostering in greater detail, contact your local social work office and ask to talk to any of the social workers who deal with fostering. A social worker will offer an informal discussion, give you information and help you consider what fostering will mean for you. We hope this will help you decide whether you wish to proceed further.
What happens if I wish to become a foster carer?
- A social worker will visit you to discuss the preparation and assessment process that all prospective foster carers undertake.
- Checks of police and social work records are always carried out.
- A medical check is requested to ensure that you are fit and well enough to care for children.
- You will be asked to provide the names of two referees who can comment on your suitability to care for children.
- A social worker will visit you and your family over a period of time to assess your suitability and complete a Home Study report in partnership with you.
- You will be asked to attend a "Skills to Foster" training course.
- Following completion of the training course, we would aim to complete your assessment in six months.
What happens next?
The Home Study report will be presented to the Aberdeenshire Council Fostering Panel. You will be invited to attend part of the panel to discuss your application. The social worker involved in your 
preparation and assessment will discuss the role of the panel in more detail with you. The panel's recommendation is passed to the Head of Social Work (Child Care and Criminal Justice) who will make a decision within 14 days.
