To approve a change to the policy for Special Guardianship financial support so that foster carers who decide to apply for a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) for a looked after child continue to receive financial allowances at the rate equivalent to fostering allowances and fees for the duration of the SGO arrangement.

Under the current policy carers are required to complete a means test two years after the SGO is made and their allowances are adjusted based on this. Consequently many foster carers are reluctant to apply for an SGO where this has been assessed to be in the child’s best interests as they are concerned about the financial impact of this decision.

That:

(a) The revised financial policy for special guardianship orders at appendix 1 is approved; and

(b) the policy is implemented from 1st April 2019.

1.    Do nothing. Looked after children who could be cared for outside of the looked after system without the intrusion of state intervention continue to be looked after because their foster carers are concerned about levels of financial support. Herefordshire will continue to have higher numbers of looked after children than statistical neighbours and caseloads will be higher for social workers than is necessary.

2.    Implement revised policy for SGOs made following implementation of the new policy only.  This could be seen as unfair and result in complaints and legal challenge from existing SGO carers.

3.    Apply the new policy to all new and existing SGOs from 1 April 2019. This is the proposed option as it will maintain a fair and transparent approach to financial support whilst also promoting the opportunity for children to be cared for outside of the looked after system where this is assessed to be in their best interests.