Freedom of information response
Fee Rates
1. Details of the average fee rates agreed with external suppliers of Independent Foster Care Services for the current year (2022/2023). This is based on only one child with no disability and excludes allowances.
2. Details of the lowest, highest and average weekly fee rates paid to local authority carers (standard carer allowance, no extra skills payment). Please note that for question 2, we do not require details of all rates paid to individual suppliers, simply minimum, maximum and average rates payable.
3. The number of looked after children in Foster Care as of 03 October 2022 and of those children, the percentage looked after by independent foster agencies.
1. Details of the average fee rates agreed with external suppliers of Independent Foster Care Services for the current year (2022/2023). This is based on only one child with no disability and excludes allowances. The average IFA cost = £942 per week as at Q2 – 30 Sep 2022
2. Details of the lowest, highest and average weekly fee rates paid to local authority carers (standard carer allowance, no extra skills payment). Please note that for question 2, we do not require details of all rates paid to individual suppliers, simply minimum, maximum and average rates payable. – Our payments policy for Thurrock approved foster carers is available online: - https://www.fosteringhandbook.com/thurrock/files/payments.pdf The average payment made to a foster carer is £438 per week
3. The number of looked after children in Foster Care as of 03 October 2022 and of those children, the percentage looked after by independent foster agencies. On the 3rd October 207 children were placed in foster care, 48% were placed with IFA
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