Norfolk foster carers may receive a 15% pay uplift as part of a proposed package of investment designed to strengthen care services across the county.
These proposals form part of a three-year transformation programme that will be considered by Norfolk’s Cabinet when it meets on Monday 26 January. If approved, the changes would see the council invest around £1.5m each year to help more children in care live within family settings.
Central to the plans is the proposed Norfolk foster carer pay uplift, which would apply to both mainstream and kinship carers. Additional increases are also being proposed for mainstream carers supporting children aged 10 and over, alongside enhanced rewards for long service.
The wider package includes expansion of the council’s therapeutic support offer, greater practical assistance for carers and improved support for those in the early years of fostering. These measures follow extensive engagement with foster carers, aimed at understanding how services can better support them and encourage more people to foster.
Norfolk, like many areas nationally, faces a shortage of foster carers. The council has highlighted that some children are currently living in residential care who could benefit from a family environment. Research shows that family-based care is less traumatic for children and leads to better outcomes, while also reducing costs. A residential placement in Norfolk costs close to £300,000 per year, compared with around £45,000 for a foster placement.
Cllr Penny Carpenter, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Last year we held several engagement sessions with our essential and highly valued foster carers to find out what we could do better and how we could improve support. These proposals address a range of challenges raised by our foster carers and will help children in care to flourish.
“This investment covering finances as well as therapeutic and practical support recognises the significant contribution our carers make. We hope it will help us to retain and recruit the carers our children need. I know carers aren’t motivated by money, but this increase recognises how crucial they are. Family life has changed, and we have to ensure our carers have both the financial and practical support they need.”
Alongside the Norfolk foster carer pay uplift, the council is proposing to expand its therapeutic support team with additional clinicians, specialist training and enhanced support for carers during their first two years. The plans also include the recruitment of carer support workers, bespoke assistance for specialist foster carers and improvements to long service recognition.
On average, five children come into care in Norfolk each week. Around 300 fostering households currently care for children ranging from babies to young adults. All carers receive extensive training and have access to 24/7 support.
The council hopes that the combined focus on pay, stability and support will help reduce financial pressures, improve retention and attract new carers, increasing the number of family homes available to children entering care.
