Decision details

To recommend the rate of payment increase to North Yorkshire Foster Carers to put in place from 1 April 2024

For the 2024/2025 Payment Rates for NYC Foster Carers (including Family & Friends Foster Carers, Short Break and Specialist Short Break Carers and Staying Put arrangements) to be increased by 4% (in line with the December 2023 rate of CPI) of the 2023/2024 Payment Rates.

To increase the Day Care rate of £8.40 per hour to £9.15 per hour (to keep in line with 80% of the level of the National Living Wage being introduced in April 2024).

Following the guidance issued by The Fostering Network, in April 2016 North Yorkshire County Council (as it was then) increased fostering payments by the rate of CPI (Consumer Price Index) in December 2015 (which at the time was 0.2%). The 2016/2017 methodology has been adopted every year since.

In 2023/2024 there were also other additional payment increases: above inflation increase to the Accredited Foster Carer Premium, introduction of bridging payments for Accredited Foster Carers and payment to all Foster Carers of the first 100 miles of travel (that had previously been expected to be paid from the child’s/young person’s Allowance).

As such, the proposal for 2024/2025 Payment Rates is an increase by the rate of CPI in December 2023 – which was 4%. Sufficient budget provision has been incorporated into the North Yorkshire Council MTFS (Medium Term Financial Strategy) to cover a 4% increase in Fostering payments.