Agenda item

To consider the Housing Alterations Policy for Bath and North East Somerset Foster Carers.

Cllr Mark Elliott, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report, moved the officer recommendation and made the following points:

·Bath & North East Somerset faces a shortage of foster placements, resulting in some children living in residential care despite care plans indicating they could live with foster families. A proposed capital grant scheme—offering up to £50,000 per household—will help foster carers fund home extensions or adaptations, enabling them to take in more children. Foster carers strongly support the initiative, with 90% reacting positively and over half willing to commit to ten more years of fostering if such support is available.

·The scheme is designed with strict safeguards, including eligibility limited to in?house carers who own their homes, mandatory contractor quotes, and a five?year legal charge with tapered repayment if fostering ends early. The benefits are significant: more children placed in family settings, improved stability and outcomes, better retention of experienced carers, and substantial cost savings compared with residential placements. The financial payback can be as short as 1.5 months in cases where additional placements avoid high residential costs.

·The scheme has a dual value, improving the lives of vulnerable children while delivering clear financial benefits for the Council.

Cllr Paul May seconded the motion and made the following points:

·The proposals demonstrate a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children in care and ensuring they have the best life chances as adults.

·There are 81,000 children in care nationally, and the government aims to recruit 10,000 additional foster carers as part of a national reform programme.

·The number of in?house foster carers has declined by nearly 20% since the Covid pandemic, despite their emotional and financial value.

·In?house foster carers provide stability, safety, disability support, and educational support, with some young people staying beyond age 18.

·Families First legislation encourages early intervention to reduce the number of children entering care, and foster care remains the bestoption for those who do.

·A regional fostering hub for the South West, involving 15 local authorities, was introduced two years ago to create a consistent recruitment approach. Recruitment has improved visibility but remains modest.

·The government plans to embed these fostering hubs nationally, and the council welcomes this recognition of a model they helped pioneer.

·There is a significant cost difference between independent fostering providers (£1,162/week) and in?house foster carers (£464/week), making in?house care 2.5 times less expensive.

Cllr Matt McCabe expressed his thanks to all foster carers for the valuable service they provide.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

(1)  To agree the proposal to offer housing alterations for foster carers, and note the draft policy Housing Alterations Policy for Bath & North East Somerset Foster Carers. 

(2)  To agree the delegation of final approval for the policy and associated processes to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

(3)  To note  the allocation of £500,000 of capital funding for the works which is included in the proposed capital programme as provisionally approved, delegating responsibility for the full approval of the funding to the Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the Director of Finance (S151 Officer), and to delegate decisions on each individual case to the Director of Children’s Services.