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3.2.4 Children in Need - Relative Carers and Allowances

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This procedure describes how and when payments can be made to the relatives and carers of Children in Need. It should be read in conjunction with the guidance in Children in Need, Definition and Criteria Guidance and Initial and Core Assessments Guidance.


Contents

  1. Criteria for Children in Need Relative Allowances
  2. Checks Before Arrangements With Relative Carers
  3. Process for Paying Allowances
  4. Approval for Financial Assistance


1. Criteria for Children in Need Relative Allowances

Children in Need Relative Allowances may be payable where a child is being cared for by a relative or friend in circumstances where the arrangement relates to a child who is assessed as a Child in Need, who cannot live with his or her parent or a person with Parental Responsibility for a period of at least 4 weeks, the placement has been assisted or initiated by the authority and is supported by the parents.

The additional criteria for the payment of a Child in Need Relative Allowance are:

  • The arrangement prevents the need for the child to be Looked After or will enable a child to leave the Looked After Service
  • The arrangement is in the child's best interests
  • The arrangement could not proceed without the financial support of the local authority
  • There is no other more suitable arrangement within the family
  • The carers are on income support or working family tax credit or, in exceptional circumstances, there is in extreme hardship and all the family's resources are fully committed

The child may come within the definition of a Privately Fostered child, and if so, the Private Fostering Procedure will apply.

The status of the arrangements with the carers should be clear and stated within the Child in Need Plan.

The status of the care arrangement is different from a Looked After Placement with Relatives or Friends (sometimes known as  a Kinship Placement), when the procedure for Placements with Connected Persons Procedure must be followed.

Where the carer holds a Residence Order, see Residence Order Allowances Procedure.


2. Checks Before Arrangements With Relative Carers

For all arrangements where a relative or friend cares for a Child in Need, the following is a full list of matters to be considered, details of which must be recorded.

  • Age
  • Health
  • Personality
  • Marital status and particulars of any previous marriages
  • Criminal convictions and results of any applications to adopt, child mind, or foster
  • Past and present employment, leisure activities and interests
  • Previous experience of looking after children, and capacity to care for this child
  • Details of children of the household, whether living there or not
  • Religious, cultural, racial and linguistic factors
  • Details of living standards and accommodation of the household
  • Seek and obtain, as far as is appropriate, the wishes and views of those who hold parental responsibility for the child

Consideration should also be given to the need to undertake Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and other standard checks in respect of the proposed carers. 

In addition, where Private Fostering arrangements have been made, the procedures set out in the procedure for Private Fostering Procedure which must be followed by the child's social worker. 

All arrangements to live with friends or family should be planned in advance as far as possible.  However, emergency arrangements are sometimes inevitable, and wherever possible, before these occur, the child's social worker should:

  • Meet the carers
  • Visit the accommodation
  • Obtain information about other persons living in the household
  • Family support services (e.g. social work support, other agency support) should also be used to help and stabilise children who are living with their extended family or with friends, and included in a Child in Need Plan
  • Seek and obtain the wishes and feelings of those with parental responsibility


3. Process for Paying Allowances

Where the criteria for the payment of allowances appear to be met, the child's social worker should seek the approval of the Service Manager to the payment in principle of an Allowance.  The relevant manager will require information about the care arrangements, the Initial or Core Assessment and an explanation of how the criteria for the payment of an allowance are met.

Once the approval in principle has been given, the social worker should assess the carer's ability to provide financial support to the child. 

Once the financial assessment has been received, it should be sent to the relevant manager for the calculation to be completed and the level determined in accordance with the scales agreed from time to time. 


4. Approval for Financial Assistance

Arrangements for financial assistance must be included in a Child in Need Plan but no commitments can be made until the approval of the Service Manager has been obtained.

When deciding which level of delegated authority is required, cumulative costs over a financial year must be taken into account.

End