Social Services Information
with Independent Foster Care Services
- The Fostering Network states Foster Carers need better financial recognition
- Since 1997 the total number of children in Wales looked after by foster carers and in residential care increased by 50%.
- There is a shortage of nearly 750 Foster Carers in Wales alone. In March 2009, there were 4705 looked after children and young people in Wales and 77% of these lived with Foster Carers.
Find a section
- Introduction to Independent Foster Care Services
- Services provided
- Family Contact Room
- Conference facilities
- Main Statement of Purpose
- Inspection reports
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IFCS quick finder
Find important pages on the Independent Foster Care Services website here!
How to find us
IFCS are based in Cardiff, South Wales, if you need directions just go to our directions page.
Services Provided
Promoting the welfare of children and young people is the paramount consideration for IFCS. The services we provide are wholly based on this essential principle.
By listening extremely carefully to children and young people, our Foster Carers and Local Authorities IFCS has always been able to maintain and improve high quality and well resourced services.
Following considerable and successful growth IFCS has restructured charges to achieve better value and quality for the public money spent by Local Authorities. Children and young people, our Foster Carers, and the communities in which they live deserve this. There is no difference between value for money sought by Local Authorities and quality of service.
IFCS now have no 'High Need' or 'Single Placement' charge, although still provide the high quality services required for children and young people with significant needs. The emphasis has changed from additional charges to careful and more selective matching to meet higher levels of need.
IFCS has also changed the age range for a third time for foster placements qualifying for a lower weekly charge. Initially the qualifying age range was children under 2 years, then under 5 years, now the placements of all children placed under 8 years qualify for a reduced weekly rate.
Like many fostering agencies IFCS has significantly lower rates for siblings placed together. However, IFCS also charge this reduced sibling rate for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK, whether any relationship or not can be determined at the time of placement. This reflects the special circumstances in which such children arrive, and the importance of the ethnic, cultural and emotional bonds between them.
These efficiency and quality of service improvements, which also include a significantly lower charge for children placed on a long term basis and for young people aged over 18 years, have been made in the context of IFCS increasing payments to our Foster Carers and strengthening our Social Work and Support Team.
IFCS Weekly Charges to Local Authorities
Standard Charge for Children and Young People over 8 years: £829.81 per week.
Standard Charge for Children under 8 years: £642.97 per week.
Standard Charge for Young Adult over 18 years: £535.50 per week.
Standard Charge for Mother and Baby (both mother and baby must be under 18 years): £829.81 per week for Mother £642.97 per week for Baby.
Standard for Sibling Groups in the same Foster Placement: 1st Child - £829.81 (over 8 years) / £642.97 (under 8 years), 2nd Child £513.61 3rd Child £513.61.
Standard Charge for Respite: Charged at a daily rate of one seventh the standard weekly charge.
Standard Charge for children and Young People placed on a Long Term basis: £740.01.
The IFCS definition of “Long Term” is a child or young person who has been with our Foster Carers for at least 6 months continuously and whose Care Plan has been confirmed as “Long Term Foster Care” at a Statutory Review.
IFCS Services Included in the above Charges
Services include everything required by partner Local Authorities through contractual obligations. However, IFCS provide additional and strengthened services (for no extra charge) which are detailed below:
- A large and committed staff team providing constant support for Foster Carers and children and young people.
- Highly resourced and staffed out of office hours support for Foster Carer and children and young people.
- Extra allowances for children and young people to promote welfare and self esteem, through leisure activities, education and achievements in the community.
- Provision of alternative education for children and young people excluded from school.
- Emergency respite care.
- Family contact services, including supervision.
- Support for Foster Carers from a qualified and experienced Family Therapist to assist in best meeting the needs of specific children and young with significant needs.
- Assistance with the purchase of specialist equipment for children and young people with special physical and mobility needs.
In partnership with children and young people, Foster Carers, and Local Authority and other professionals, IFCS will always strive to provide high quality services with the welfare of children as the central focus and paramount consideration. These services will also be provided in the context of the necessity to provide the best possible value for public money.
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