- To Become a Foster Carer: 0800 023 4561
- Other Enquiries: 0800 085 2225
FCA Placement Terms & Conditions
1. Placing Authorities and/or their appointed representatives will be deemed to have accepted the following Terms and Conditions upon reserving or effecting a placement.
2. Foster Care Associates’ carers and staff are committed to working through problems with children and young persons, but in the event that a child has to move, Foster Care Associates will attempt to give 28 days’ notice to ensure that such a move be carried out in a planned manner.
3. In the event of an emergency Foster Care Associates reserves the right to place a child with respite carers. The placing Authority will be informed at the earliest opportunity. However, if we are unable to make contact with the placing Authority’s out of hour’s service this may be after the event. We expect to provide the best possible substitute in the unlikely event of an unplanned move from a foster home.
4. Foster Care Associates reserves the right to review all placements of children and young people to ensure that their needs have been described accurately, and can be met in the identified provision. Undisclosed or emerging needs may require additional services. Foster Care Associates will provide information to the Local Authority/Trust regarding the need for additional services. Should the Local Authority/Trust be unforthcoming of services to meet those needs and it becomes necessary for Foster Care Associates to provide additional services the placement type/cost will be reviewed. Foster Care Associates reserves the right to increase/decrease placement cost in consultation with the Local Authority/Trust as required in this circumstance. Foundation Placements will always be reviewed by Foster Care Associates 28 days after admission.
5. Charges are normally reviewed on 1st April annually. Any increases will be notified in advance.
6. Where the price of a placement is dependant on the age of the child or young person, that price shall automatically be adjusted to reflect the relevant age band.
7. All placements will be invoiced 4 weeks in advance (e.g. 1st January for February fees) and are payable within 14 days.
8. In the event of an emergency placement, placing Authorities will be invoiced in arrears. As soon as is practicable this will be amended to our normal payment conditions specified in Section 7.
9. Foster Care Associates reserves the right to charge interest on any account which remains outstanding for a period exceeding 60 days of the invoice date. This will be at the prevailing bank base interest rate plus 5%. Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulation 2002, we can exercise our statutory right to charge interest and an administrative charge on all overdue invoices.
10. Any overpayment by an Authority will normally be credited within 14 days.
11. Payment of 75% of our normal charge is required from the date a placement is reserved.
12. 28 days notice of termination of placement is required in writing.
13. Our basic placement charges include the following:
(a) Allowance to carers that includes:
- Weekly clothing allowance, to maintain clothing at an adequate and reasonable level
- Child/Young person’s pocket money
- The first 20 miles of transport per day incurred by the foster carer for all children in placement, with the exception of contact meetings where the total mileage will be charged.
- Holiday expenses up to a maximum of £300.00 per annum
- Birthday and festival allowances
(b) Respite provision (as determined for specific placement type)
(c) Support and training of carers and staff
(d) For Team Parenting Placements therapeutic assessment of child/young person as required.
14. Our basic charges do not cover the following items which will be negotiated with the Authority:
(a) Emergency /initial clothing allowance. An initial level of suitable clothing is expected on placement.
(b) School uniform initial allowance
(c) Ophthalmic, dental or other medical items or treatment other than standard charges for routine examination and assessment
(d) Contact charges (see placement charges) and transport to and from contact meetings
(e) Any transport associated with the placement other than that covered in sections 13(a)
15. These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with our list of placement charges and supersede any earlier documents.
16. Foster Care Associates will enable any child or young person to access advice, information or advocacy from an independent person in accordance with current guidance and regulation.
17. The provision of Form F Assessments, the sharing of the information about foster carers and the resulting foster placements are made in good faith. Any direct approach to a foster carer by a local authority with children/young people in placement will incur a fee equal to the annual placement charge for each placement.
18. Prior to placement, or at the point of admission in the case of any emergency, the local authority will provide FCA with LAC documentation and a full history of the child/young person, including challenging and offending behaviours and previous incidents of child abuse, both in respect of that individual being a victim or perpetrator. In the event that such documentation is not provided in accordance with this clause the local authority will indemnify FCA against all liabilities, damages, costs, losses, claims, expenses, demands and proceedings whatsoever, however arising, in relation to the foster placement and affected third parties.
