75% off Council Tax for foster carers under new incentive plan by local authority

Wrexham Council plan to introduce two large incentives to help assist with the recruitment and retention of potential foster carers living within the borough of Wrexham and, reduce the number of children placed with independent fostering agencies outside of Wrexham borough.

The plans are detailed in a report going before the Executive Board next week that will see a ‘Fostering Friendly Policy’ rolled out internally at Wrexham Council for those council employees who are are approved or being assessed as foster carers in Wrexham.

This policy will see an entitlement to up to 5 days extra annual leave to enable the carers to attend relevant meetings and training sessions in their role as a foster carer. The council say this will help promote “highly trained and supportive carers who are able to meet the complex needs of children and young people in the care of Wrexham County Borough Council, and to maximise the children’s and young people’s ability to achieve positive outcomes in their life”. Wrexham Council told us they have 113 foster carers who work for the authority, and therefore would be eligible for this new policy.

A second general policy will see all foster carers approved by Wrexham County Borough Council, and not just those with Wrexham council, to be eligible for a 75% reduction in their net council tax. Currently Wrexham Council offer nothing off the council tax bill whereas some local authorities offer 50%, with the council keen to point out this is Wrexham going above and beyond others.

The Council Tax Discretionary Discount Scheme is a direct incentive, with the council explaining, “The aim is to encourage prospective foster carers who a live in the Wrexham area to apply to foster with Wrexham County Borough Council. Increasing the number of foster carers who live in the Wrexham area will ensure children in the care of Wrexham County Borough Council are able to remain in their local areas in order to maintain relationships, promote their identity and provide consistency of community, education and health care through a time of great change and trauma for a child. This policy will also make being a foster carer with Wrexham County Borough Council more attractive to potential foster carers and prevent them registering for approval with Independent Fostering Agencies of which there are a significant number in Wrexham.

Cllr Andrew Atkinson, Lead Member, Children’s Services explained, “We need to attract more foster carers, and we think this is a great way of doing it and it brings us in line with other authorities.”

“It makes it more attractive as a package to be a foster carer for the local authority. I think that will make people sort of stop and look at the Council, what we’ve got to offer over perhaps a private agency and actually realise the other benefits of the council offer as well.”

With a reduction in council tax meaning some less income, Wrexham Council Chief Executive Ian Bancroft explained, “The cost of investing in this is outweighed by the cost it costs us to care if we don’t have foster carers. So in the long term this will pay for itself if we get the increase in foster carers that we’re anticipating through this. It is a win win all around in terms of really good outcomes for our children and young people, but also financially, it’s a win as well.

We asked if this was a specific change in policy due to demand. Cllr Atkinson said, “It is about the need that’s out there, and making sure we meet that appropriately. We have got to make sure we have the appropriate amount of foster carers to meet the need. We’ve got to make sure that we get as many as possible in house because where we can offer the most support. It is about making sure that children get the most support they possibly can have.”

“It is about keeping Wrexham children in Wrexham, which is incredibly important. That means they are close to everything that matters to them, their home. We have to increase our numbers to do that.”

“It is not about the money, but people need to be financially supported in order to do it. If this makes it more attractive, and it’s part of the overall package, then we have to offer that.”

Mr Bancroft said to anyone interested in getting further information, “The message is come and talk to us!” – you can find out more, and how to get in touch on the council’s dedicated webpage here.

We also asked if such discretion on the council tax could be used as a lever elsewhere in different services, however it was acknowledged that could theoretically be possible, but nothing was deemed as ‘equivalent’ in terms of the council’s ‘corporate parent’ role so was effectively ruled out.