Are council fostering allowance rates paid during respite care?

A respite arrangement does not automatically create a standard entitlement to the full fostering allowance for either carer. The payment position is determined by the council’s fostering policy, the child’s placement plan and the written agreement made with the foster carers involved.

Respite care is usually a planned, temporary stay with another approved foster carer. It does not normally end the original placement. This means the council may treat the allowance in different ways, depending on the length and purpose of the respite period:

• the main foster carer may continue to receive the child’s allowance because the placement remains open and they retain overall responsibility;
• the respite carer may receive an agreed payment for the days or nights they provide care;
• the allowance may be divided between the carers; or
• a separate respite or short-break rate may apply instead of the usual fostering allowance.

The payment may also depend on what happens during the respite period. For example, a brief planned break may be handled differently from a longer period when the child is living with another carer. Emergency respite, repeated short stays and arrangements involving more than one council or fostering service may require specific instructions from the placing authority.

It is important to distinguish the child’s fostering allowance from any professional fee or other payment made to a foster carer. The allowance is intended to help meet the costs of caring for the child, while a fee, where applicable, relates to the carer’s role and responsibilities. A council may therefore apply different rules to each part of the payment during respite. The fact that an allowance continues does not necessarily mean that every element of the usual payment does so.

Before respite begins, ask the supervising social worker or the child’s social worker to confirm the arrangement in writing. The information should cover:

• which carer will receive the allowance;
• whether the amount will be paid in full, divided or replaced by a respite rate;
• the dates used to calculate each payment;
• how expenses such as travel, clothing, activities or equipment will be dealt with;
• whether the usual professional fee is affected; and
• what happens if the respite lasts longer than originally planned.

Do not assume that a payment will transfer automatically when a child moves temporarily between carers. The council may need to authorise the arrangement and update its payment records. Keeping the agreed dates, decisions and receipts can help prevent confusion, particularly where the respite period crosses a payment cycle.

If the child’s circumstances change during respite, the payment decision may need to be reviewed. Examples include a change to the length of the stay, a move from planned respite to an alternative placement, or additional care needs requiring extra expenditure. Any change should be discussed with the relevant social worker rather than agreed informally between carers.

Foster carers considering respite should check their own fostering agreement as well as the child’s placement documentation. These documents may explain the council’s approach, but the specific payment should still be confirmed for the individual arrangement. For advice about fostering allowances and respite care, prospective and approved carers in Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands can discuss the circumstances with their local fostering team.