Payments to ‘special guardians’ to be increased

Family members who take on permanent guardianship of children who would otherwise be in the care system will now receive the same allowance as foster carers.

Shropshire Council says the policy change will remove a potential financial barrier to people becoming ‘special guardians’.

There are currently 121 children in Shropshire being cared for under special guardianship orders (SGOs).

An SGO gives parental responsibility to a relative or family friend of a child, who has previously been in the care of the local authority, without severing ties with the birth parents as is the case with adoption.

The new payment policy will cost the council around £28,560 extra a year, taking the total annual cost of funding SGOs from £573,830 to £602,390.

Payments will vary depending on the age of the child, skill level of the carer and number of children subject to the order.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Monday, Councillor Ed Potter, portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “SGOs are important for carers and children. It means that children can live on a long-term basis with people who are not their parents but who are otherwise known to them.

“Importantly once an SGO has been granted, they are no longer classed as ‘looked after children’ and the level of social work input is reduced.

“This policy supports our strategy to reduce the number of children looked after by the council and ensure that children can live wherever possible with a family.

“The revised policy brings in line remuneration payments for SGOs with those of foster carers, so that SGOs are not financially disadvantaged and that it is an agreeable option for them to care for these children on a long-term basis.

“It’s good for the children as they can remain in the long-term care of somebody they are acquainted with.

“If this wasn’t the case then there is a risk of the children being placed outside the family with foster carers or into residential provision.

“This is positive for carers as they are equitably financially compensated for caring for children for whom they are not the parent.”

Cabinet members unanimously supported the policy change.

Council leader Peter Nutting said: “I think it’s an excellent policy and I think it’s the right thing for the council to be doing.

“We do want to look after our carers as much as possible.”

The council has also pledged to back-date payments to special guardians for up to three years, at an estimated cost of £120,410. This will be capped at £10,000 per special guardian but a report to cabinet said no one was expected to exceed this threshold.