Why foster with Bury Council?

Why Foster

• 50% Council Tax reduction All Bury Council foster carers are entitled to a 50% reduction in their Council tax bill regardless whether you live in the borough of Bury or not.

• Adjustment fee This payment is a discretionary fee equivalent to the professional fee for two weeks at the end of a placement (when needed) such as when a long-term placement end, after a disruption or if the carer experiences a bereavement, to offer the foster carer the time and space needed.

• Respite Foster carers will receive an annual respite allowance of 7 nights per year (equivalent to the Foster Carer professional fee). If the respite care has not be used by the end of the financial year then the allowance will be paid direct to the foster carer.

• Retainer fee This is to help to alleviate the worry to Foster Carers being able to financially manage if there was a gap in between caring for children, especially where the carer is reliant on a fostering income. The retainer fee is linked to the day rate equivalent of the Professional Fee for 4 weeks maximum per year per fostering household.

• PAMS Assist / Silver Cloud At Bury, we offer emotional / wellbeing support as well as financial and legal advice via the PAMS Assist & Silver Cloud benefit which is available to all our fostering households.

• Max cards for all children Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for cared for and looked after children. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. We recognise the value of this benefit and provide them to all our children & young people.

• Blue Light Card We pay the membership fee for all our foster carers to sign up for a Blue Light card which offers benefits and discounts to a wide range of high street and online retailers.

• Wide range of training courses We have a comprehensive annual training programme to support you in your professional development as a foster carer. All our training courses are held locally in Bury.

• Support groups We run monthly support groups for carers to meet up and receive peer support, all our groups are held locally in Bury.

• Family Fun Days We recognise the importance of coming together for fun days out so we offer summer trips as well as an annual Christmas party which is for everyone in your fostering household, including birth children.

Allowances

• Welcome fee of £1000 As a newly approved foster carer you will receive a one-off bonus of £1000 at the point of your first placement.

• Equipment provided We provide all the equipment you need to care for the child / young person (e.g. cots, beds, wardrobes, car seats etc)

• Mileage We reimburse your mileage for school runs, attending meetings, appointments and training.

• Refer a friend scheme Our Refer a Friend scheme offers you a thank you payment of £1000 if the person you refer becomes an approved foster carer with Bury Council.