Several groups of people, who care for young people within communities in South Ayrshire, will receive a 2% increase in allowances from April 2005.

At a meeting of the Social Justice Committee it was decided that the increases in allowances would be paid to foster carers, shared carers and adoptive parents in receipt of approved adoption allowance, to take account of inflation. Curators ad Litem, who are appointed by the court in specified situations such as during an adoption process, will also now be paid in accordance with proposals from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

In 1997 the Council agreed to increase fostering allowances as part of the proposed changes to modernise fostering services in South Ayrshire. The increase was based on research carried out across Scotland on fostering services and consultation with carers in South Ayrshire.

In 1998 the Council agreed a report establishing an Approved Adoption Allowance scheme in line with the Adoption Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1996.

Payments to shared carers are made at a set rate that varies according to the length of time that care is required.

The allowances have now been reviewed to take into account inflation, and the funding for them will be met from the Children and Families Services budget for financial year 2005/06.

The Scottish Government has announced increased resources to support fostering in the financial years 2005/06 and 2006/07 totalling £12,000,000 across Scotland.

The Council is still to be advised of specific allocations and it is proposed a report will be prepared for the Committee with revised proposals on fostering, including payments, later in 2005.

The change in allowances are as follows:

Fostering allowances

There are some situations where carers are paid an enhancement of up to 100% and it is proposed that these rates should also increase by 2.0%.

Adoption allowances

Shared Carer Rates

Curator ad litem payments

March 2005