Council proposes charging parents of children taken into local authority care half of weekly cost

Derbyshire County Council is considering charging parents of children taken into local authority care a contribution towards the cost of looking after their children, with a decision to be made later this month.

The council announced it was facing “unprecedented financial challenges”, creating the need for it to consider changing its contribution to care policy.

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to protect children who are at risk of significant harm and, when risks are unmanageable within a home context, to take the necessary actions under the Children’s Act 1989 to remove a child from their parents’ care.

When a court order is requested and issued the Local Authority will take responsibility for the care of the child and all associated costs.

However, in some instances, a family will agree to a child coming into the care of the Local Authority and the parent or parents will have ‘parental responsibility’ for their child under S20 of the Children’s Act 1989.

The council said: “Although the legislation means local authorities can legally ask eligible parents for a contribution to their children’s care in such cases up to their 16th birthday, we have never made a charge.

“But as we face budgetary pressures far greater than experienced before, we’re considering starting to charge for this form of care.”

Following an eight-week consultation with the public, in which only 49% of respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal, the council’s Improvement and Scrutiny Committee recommended that eligible parents should contribute 50% of the age based fostering allowance for their children placed into care under S20 of the Children Act 1989.

A report setting out the rationale for the proposal is to be considered by council leaders later this month (17 October).

Derbyshire noted that if the proposals are approved, exemptions would apply for eligible families – for example who receive benefits – and while the legislation states that from 16 a child themselves could be charged for contributions to their care, it would “not intend” to make that charge.

Responding to the proposals, Cathy Ashley, Chief Executive of the charity Family Rights Group said: “This would be a harsh counter-productive step. A desperate measure, that’s not in the interest of children or their families and indeed will end up more expensive in the long run.

“It’s very rare for a parent who can’t cope or whose child is out of control to ask social workers to place their child in the care system if they have any other options available to them, like money to pay for respite care or support at home. Families seeking a section 20 voluntary arrangement are often in desperate straits, for example they may be very young and struggling to cope, they or their children may have severe mental health difficulties or physical disabilities, or their child may have been groomed. You are talking about parents who are likely to be already facing financial hardship, and the danger with adding these costs is that it might deter parents from coming forward to ask their local authority for help."

The charity said it would be submitting freedom of information requests to local authorities in order to understand which other councils have or are considering introducing such a policy.

John Pearce, Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) Immediate Past President, said: “In the face of unprecedented financial and demand pressures and the absence of sufficient and sustainable funding from central government, councils have no option but to consider a range of measures to balance their budgets. This includes seeking financial contributions for children who have been voluntarily accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, in some circumstances.

“How individual councils choose to arrange their services or respond to pressures on their budget is for local determination. ADCS will continue to work with government towards a sufficient long term funding settlement for councils and for children.”

Lottie Winson