Petition opposes kinship carers' cut

Published 24 Feb 2010 11:36 1 Comment

KINSHIP carers in Clackmannanshire have started a petition in an effort to persuade the local authority into a u-turn over a decision to slash their allowance.

The carers - who look after the children of another family member - will have their allowance cut by half in March and by 67 per cent in October following a decision taken by local councillors on Thursday 28 January.

Before the meeting their weekly allowance was the same as that of a foster carer - ranging from £124 to £215 depending on the child's age.

In comparison, the council pays foster care agencies an average of £600 per week for every child they place.

Foster care agencies, such as the National Fostering Agency and Foster Care Associates, advertise to carers they will receive a weekly payment in the region of £360 to £390 per child.

One kinship carer, who looks after three children aged under 10, told the Advertiser, "It is like a slap in the face to learn of the money they pay foster agencies whilst taking money away from us.

"We are giving these kids, who have had a difficult life, a happy background. We have pointed out how much money we are saving them. We feel it is emotional blackmail and the council is not doing anything to help us, they are just making things difficult."

She added, "We have been told the decision can't be changed for a period of six months but we have to keep this up and have started the petition."

There are a total of 40 kinship carers in the Wee County looking after 64 children. Whilst there are 20 children placed in agency foster care at any one time.

The petition reads "We the undersigned ask that Clackmannanshire Council recognise the importance of family members in taking care of children who cannot be cared for by their parents; acknowledge the benefits of placing a child with someone they already know and trust rather than a stranger; reconsider their position with regard to payment for kinship carers and adhere to the concordat with the Scottish Government to pay kinship carers the same allowances as foster carers by 2011."

Since the decision was taken at council several kinship carers have visited surgeries held by those councillors who voted to cut their allowance. The drop in rates were approved by Labour and Conservative councillors.

Rev Sam Ovens, one of the councillors who voted for the change in the allowance, has met with the carers.

Talking to the Advertiser he was unable to speak about what was discussed in their meeting but did say, "The level of funding is just not there. Four or five years ago we paid carers £79 per week and then it went up to £139 but the legislation changed allowing organisations, such as Barnardo's, to come in and say 'we will pay you more' and a lot of carers left and went with them.

"Local authorities then had to purchase these places from the agency - the whole thing is a jungle."

Rev Ovens added, "We are living in a time where every penny counts and we are faced with a terrible situation. Nobody likes to take money from people.

"I'm sorry I wasn't more positive with them, we are looking at all the avenues we can and I will be discussing their correspondence at a meeting in the coming weeks."

SNP councillor Mark English has raised his concerns that kinship carers were only made aware their allowance was under review the day before the meeting. Following the decision many carers found a deduction in their next payment.

Mr English said, "I am extremely concerned that proper notification of changes to kinship care were not made to carers in advance of the meeting. It is unacceptable that on an issue that is so critical to the care of some of the most needy people in the community carers literally have hours notice that there could be a change to the allowance."

In correspondence with Mr English, Grahame Blair, the council's director of services to people, indicated there had been an error with notification to carers.

Mr Blair wrote, "Unfortunately, due to human error relating to the date of the Council meeting at which the report would be presented, I only became aware the day before the Council meeting that the letters to kinship carers had not gone out as planned five or six days earlier."

In response to learning of the error Mr English added, "It is totally unacceptable and I believe the council administration and officers have acted in an incompetent manner which will lead to serious difficulties for all those involved."

The kinship carers' petition is available to sign in Baxters Cafe on Mill Street, Alloa, and in the Advertiser office on Drysdale Street.

The petition is also available to sign at the website http://www.cvsclacks.org.uk/petition

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• 

  Mrs G Guthrie
  Unregistered User
  Mar 9, 20:02
  Report comment

  I have had custody of my granchild for over 2 1/2 years and only found out today that there was such an allowance,I have been fighting n court now fo 2 years to keep my granchild safe and now my legal bills are over £10,000 and have not had 1 bit of help from social services, I would like some help and some information on this thanks G.G. Ayr
  
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