Types of fostering

Family and friends

When a child is unable to live with their parents, where possible, we will look to find a suitable relative or close family friend to care for them.

These people are called ‘connected carers’ or ‘kinship carers’. They are usually an extended family member to the child like a grandparent, aunt, or family friend.

Connected foster care is when a family member or friend becomes a child’s official foster carer. You may have been ‘put forward’ by the children’s birth parents or approached by the child’s social worker to care for the child long term, and Hull Fostering must assess and approve you as suitable before the child comes to live with you.

Even though you may be the child’s relative, in the eyes of the law, the child is still considered ‘looked after’, which means as an approved connected carer, you will share parental responsibility with the child’s parents and Hull City Council.

If no one is identified or assessed as suitable from the child’s extended family and friends network, a mainstream foster carer is needed to look after them.

Connected persons foster carers have their own dedicated team within Hull Fostering to support them.

Connected persons foster carers are assessed in a similar way to mainstream foster carers. You will attend foster care training and be offered the same level of support as a mainstream carer. The only difference between a mainstream carer and connected carers is, usually, a connected carer already knows the child. Or you might be related to the child, and you have agreed to care for the child or young person long term.

Achieving Permanence for Looked after Children

Financial Offer

Hull City Council operates a no detriment policy to enable foster cares; both mainstream and connected person carers in securing a permanent order for the children in their care. This means they will receive the same amount of money that they currently receive (less child benefit).

The financial package is as follows -

• Carers will continue to receive a financial payment this will be equivalent to the fostering rate for their child less child benefit
• The payment will be based on the age of the child; with carers receiving the age banding allowance as the child gets older
• If the foster carers is in receipt of a Payment for Skills this payment will continue on their existing level; even if they no longer continue to foster
• Carers will receive the annual inflation increase when this is awarded
• Carers will receive the following allowances
  • Festival Allowance - equivalent to 1x week Fostering Allowance
  • Birthday Allowance - equivalent to 1x week Fostering Allowance
  • Holiday Allowance - equivalent to 2x weeks Fostering Allowance
• This financial package will not be means tested
• The Council will also assist with legal fees to obtain the Special Guardianship Order, Child Arrangement Order or Adoption Order
• The financial support will cease on the young person’s 18th birthday when the legal order ends, unless they cease to be cared for by the carers at an earlier age. If the young person is in full time education, financial support can continue until the end of the academic year in which the young person becomes 18 years of age
• Any additional ad hoc or additional regular payments being paid to reflect the specific circumstances of the child will be considered on an individual basis and will be outlined in the Support Plan; including how these payments will be reviewed

Support from other agencies

Housing

If carers live in a Council property help is available to look at carers moving to a larger or more appropriate property.

Education

For children who become subject to a Special Guardianship and Adoption Order who have previously been looked after support is available from the Virtual School, who can provide information and advice. These children are also eligible for Pupil Premium Plus and the carers should make the child’s school aware of their legal status.

Legal

in the event of parents applying to court to vary the contact or living arrangements of the young person; Children, Young People and Family Services would offer support to the carers. The payment of legal costs may be considered if legal aid cannot be obtained and as long as the actions are considered to be in the best interest of the child.

Leaving Care Offer

For children who are in secondary education when the permanence order is made; they will also be entitled to the following -

• Funding for University accommodation costs
• A setting up allowance up to £2000 when they the leave the carers home

Post Order Support

The Post Order Team will visit the Foster Carers prior to the Order being obtained to introduce themselves, explain the support package which is available, how to contact them and alongside the social worker help to develop a Post Order Support Plan.
When the order is made the Connected Persons Team will continue to offer support to carers for three months as part of the permanency arrangements.

When Carers request a post order assessment then a social worker will be allocated within 10 working days. This will look at what are the issues and what help can be provided
Sometimes carers need help with contact with the extended family; the Post Order Team will help facilitate family meetings to look at solutions for contact, review contact arrangements and help the carers reassess whether contact still needs to be supervised.

There is a Post Order Support Group that carers will be invited to attend.

Carers will be able to access the Council’s Training Diary and attend a variety of courses if they wish for example on Attachment, Trauma and Brain Development, Technology Online Safety, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bereavement
The Post Order Team will provide advice and assistance to carers to continue with the child’s life story work.

The Post Order Team can provide advice and support to carers on Education issues; for example advice on how to apply for an EHCP

Up until March 2025 for children subject to a Special Guardianship Order and an Adoption Order carers are able to request an assessment if they feel there is a therapeutic need for the child and family. For more details please see Adoption Support Fund.

Payment for skills -

• Level 1 - £97
• Level 2 - £121
• Level 3 - £169
• Additional child - £59