2.10 Budget Policy for Children in Need and Looked After Children |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter relates to the notes for the use by Social Workers and their Manager of budgets to support Children in Need and Looked After Children
This chapter is new for December 2010.
Contents
1. Introduction
This document draws on existing policy and procedure for the service, with a view to providing a single reference point for social workers and their managers. Although written at a time (November 2008) when pressures on budgets are high, this guidance is neither new nor temporary.
From April 2009 budgets will be devolved to Children's Service Delivery Managers. It is therefore opportune to remind people of these policies, as they need to be consistently applied by all managers across the city.
2. Children in Need (as defined under Section 17)
2.1 Pending Benefit Claim
There will be no payments made in situations where state benefits will be due, unless the child is returning home from care or if payments would directly prevent the child from becoming Looked After. In either case the arrangement will have been supported or made by CYPSC. Even then it must be clear and explicit that the payment is necessary because prevention of the child being Looked After is a direct consequence of the temporary payments being made. Any payments will be made on a very short term basis with active follow up from the social worker to progress any benefit claim*.
CYPSC will not provide financial support for "lost purses" etc and service users can be signposted towards food parcels etc.
* Work is continuing about the possibility of recovering amounts paid out by us to cover periods for which benefits should have been available. This especially applies to families with no recourse to public funds. We hope to be able to update this guidance in due course in the light of the outcomes of that work.
2.2 Safety Equipment/Bedding
If children are subject to a Child Protection Plan then funding for one piece of essential safety equipment may be considered. For other equipment, service users will either need to provide it themselves or be signposted elsewhere to the benefits agency or to Budget Holding Lead Professional arrangements / the Early Intervention Fund .
Essential bedding may be considered if child on the list for a child being subject to a Child Protection Plan. No payments will be paid for beds, carpets, furniture or decorating, but service users could be signposted to charities, such as St Jude's.
2.3 Support
There will be no funding for play and leisure activities for Children in Need or on a Child Protection Plan. In some cases a service may be provided directly from the Family Resource Service, but otherwise should be secured through accessing universal services, such as those provided by Early Years, Children's Centres and the Youth Service.
Nursery fees will not be paid and CYPSC will need to refer to Early Years for nursery provision.
School meals will not be paid and parents should be directed back to the school.
Payments to relatives and carers will be paid only when this directly prevents a child becoming Looked After.
Payments of bonds or rents for private accommodation will not be paid for the rehabilitation of children in the Leeds area. The expectation is that discussions and negotiations take place with Leeds City Council Housing to provide accommodation (even temporary accommodation) via the housing protocol.
3. Looked After Children
3.1 Contact Expenses
Financial assistance for contact will only be provided to those birth parents or relatives who are in receipt of benefits. Where financial support is provided there is an expectation that birth parents or relatives will use public transport.
Contact between children and their birth family does not need to revolve around expensive activities. Expenses will be paid for the activity for the Looked After child only.
3.2 Placement Support
For new arrangements, play schemes and nursery fees for Looked After children will not be paid and all existing arrangements should be reviewed within three months. If children are placed with Family Network Carers and there is a need to maintain the placement due to carers' work commitments, then exceptions may be considered by the Children's Service Delivery Manager.
Leisure activities for children should be arranged and paid for by the carers (with a small contribution from young person via pocket money). As part of the carer's allowance, an amount (which is currently £12 for children aged 5-10 and £15 for children 11 - 15)is paid towards leisure activities per week. For any additional activities then an application can be made to the Looked After Children's Trust Fund.
School trips and residential trips for Looked After Children should be funded for the most part by their carer/s. However, should this exceed certain amounts within one year ,(which is currently £260 for 4 - 11year olds and £390 for 12-17 year olds) then a one off payment may be made over and above this amount.
3.3 Direct Work
The expenses associated with direct work with children and young people should be reasonable and kept to a minimum. These should not include meals out. Financial support will be made for materials for life story work and additional photos. (Most offices now have digital cameras and they can be uploaded onto the computers in the office. These photos can then be printed on the colour printers within the offices without additional expense of printing).
Photographs of children and young people taken by their carers will be reimbursed over and above the £52 per year allocated to the carer for the child per year. A standard set of school photos will be paid for by the carer. If further copies are required then a one off payment will be made to cover the cost.
3.4 Transport/Taxi Provision
Parents and carers are expected to transport children wherever possible. Any arrangements should be reviewed and altered as necessary, paying particular attention to changing circumstances as children get older, and the need to be consistent with what would be reasonable for the majority of children and young people. Where appropriate and depending on an assessment of need that takes account of age and maturity and safety then young people should be encouraged to use public transport.
There is an element in all maintenance payments to carers to enable a child or young person to be transported to education, health appointments, leisure activities, contact and respite. The first 70 miles per week (or £14.00 if using public transport) should be covered in the maintenance allowance. Subsequent mileage can be claimed by the carer via the supervising fostering officer. Residential units will need to make arrangements as this budget does not cover the costs of transport.
For disabled children attending short breaks and in receipt of the higher mobility component of DLA taxi provision will not be provided; unless the parents can demonstrate that they have used the mobility component in other situations (e.g. for hydrotherapy sessions).
Taxis to and from activities will not be funded. The expectation is that carers or residential units will make arrangements to ensure the child/young person can get to the activity via car or public transport. Children, should, as far as possible, be engaged in activities local to where they live keeping transport costs to a minimum.
Taxis to and from respite placements should be undertaken by the parent / carer so that continuity is provided for a child.
1 Work is continuing about the possibility of recovering amounts paid out by us to cover periods for which benefits should have been available. This especially applies to families with no recourse to public funds. We hope to be able to update this guidance in due course in the light of the outcomes of that work.
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