Pay rises of up to 7% for foster carers

Cllr Justin Bowen was in respite foster care as a child

Foster carers in Worcestershire have been awarded pay rises of up to 7%, with the deciding councillor revealing how they came to his aid as a young child.

The increase applies to all registered foster carers on the books at Worcestershire County Council.

The decision was made by Reform councillor Justin Bowen, who spent some time in respite foster care between the ages of 10 and 12.

Bowen, who is now cabinet member for children and families, said: "My experience helped shape my life."

The councillor, who grew up with his brother in a single parent household in Malvern, said he was "lucky" to have benefited from it.

"We lived with our mum. When I was 10 or 11, my brother and I would have short respite breaks, to give our mum a break," he said.

"We'd go to foster carers for weekends, or maybe the odd week in the summer holidays. I still remember their [the foster carers] names... the Hayleys.

"They gave us a lovely time. I have always kept very fond memories of that. The thing that stayed with me was the difference a lovely, warm 'home' environment can make."

There are hopes recruiting more foster carers will reduce the children's social care bill

'Lifelong mission'

At the moment, foster carers get paid a weekly sum of between £272 and £462 per child by the council, depending on the age and how acute the caring responsibility is.

The pay rises are between 4% and 7.25%, depending on which bracket each child comes under.

Bowen said he considered it a privilege to be able to bring the rises in, which have secured the support of the council's wider Reform leadership.

The decision is expected to cost the authority about £300,000, but there are hopes it will result in more in-house foster carer recruitment and reduce the reliance on care homes or outside foster agencies.

"It's been a lifelong journey for me... those early experiences have always stayed with me," he said.

"I don't think, historically, that foster carers have been valued the way they should be. For me this was my priority.

"And it's not just about the pay, it's also about the support. We've got a big job in making sure that fostering is seen and understood as the most important part of children's services."