Foster carers consider quitting over low fees
Joe Lepper
Thursday, March 4, 2010
More than a third of foster carers have thought about giving up fostering due to lack of money, according to a Fostering Network survey.
The organisation found that of the 2,100 carers surveyed that 36 per cent said the low or lack of fees involved with fostering had led to them seriously consider giving up. Half said they receive no fees at all for fostering.
In its report Love Fostering - Need Pay, which includes the survey findings, it also emerged that three-quarters of foster carers earn less than £229.20 a week. The Fostering Network points out that this is the equivalent of working in a minimum wage job for 40 hours a week.
Report author Madeleine Tearse said: "It's simply unacceptable that so many foster carers are required to work for free or such low pay. Fostering has changed over the years, and foster carers are now expected to carry out skilled and demanding work to a professional standard, which should be recognised with professional rates of pay."
