information for
carers


about alpha plus



Alpha Plus was originally established as an independent fostering agency in May 2000 by two experienced childcare managers, Mary Groarke and Chris Jackson. Both had previously worked for a large, local authority for many years and also managed another independent fostering agency.

The agency offers a high quality, professional childcare service by providing foster placements in a safe and supportive family environment for children and young people looked after by local authorities.

To help us achieve this, we recruit carers from all parts of the community, who bring a wide variety of life experiences. All our carers are thoroughly assessed, approved and trained in accordance with the requirements of the national regulatory body (Ofsted - Office for Standards in Education) and the National Code of Practice on Foster Carers.

Alpha Plus carers are offered 24-hour professional support and advice, ongoing training and a good level of remuneration reflecting the true cost of bringing up a child in a family setting. In return, they are expected to offer and maintain high standards of physical and emotional care and support to any child placed with them. This includes being able to offer the child or young person a bedroom of his or her own and assisting the child in maintaining links, where appropriate, with their family, community and school.

what does the agency aim to achieve?



At Alpha Plus our aim is at all times:


In seeking to achieve these objectives, the agency’s work is underpinned by:

The agency’s standards of care are given in Appendix 1. More details about the Agency and how it works are given in the agency’s Statement of Purpose. If you would like to see a copy, please let us know so we can arrange this.

becoming an alpha plus carer



Who can apply?

The skills required of foster carers are varied and often wide-ranging and this is reflected in the diversity of people who become Alpha Plus carers. We welcome applications from individuals and families from all parts of the community and from different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, who can bring a variety of life experiences to the fostering task. However, as a small organisation that is strongly committed to ensuring carers receive a high level of support, we have to restrict applications to those living within a 20 mile radius of our office base in Oldham. We also have a preference for car owners with a full driving licence due to the travel commitments associated with fostering. We expect that one of the approved carers should be available to meet the full range of demands of the fostering task. This is to ensure you are available for the child, to attend meetings or contact or to attend agency training on a regular basis. As we do not pay a retainer fee you need to consider carefully whether you can manage financially or whether you can arrange to work on a casual basis between placements.

Also, prospective carers need to be aware that one of the Agency’s requirements is that their house must be sufficiently large to accommodate comfortably all those living there and for any child placed with them to be able to have their own bedroom. Sibling groups of the same sex or who are under 5 may be able to share a bedroom.

What if I am already a foster carer?

You may already be a foster carer. If this is the case, you need to be aware that the regulations do not allow you to be registered with more than one fostering service at a time. As an Agency we do not solicit applications from carers already registered with another agency or local authority. However, we do recognise the carer’s right to choose. Therefore if, having discussed the matter fully, we both agree to go forward, you will first need to resign from your current agency or local authority.

If you already have a child placed with you, the Agency’s policy would be not to disrupt that placement. We will therefore only consider proceeding with an assessment if agreement is reached with the placing local authority that the placement has reached its natural conclusion.

Before the formal assessment process begins

Fostering is a challenging as well as a very rewarding task and becoming a carer can be both time consuming and demanding. Before embarking on a formal assessment therefore, we first visit you in your home to discuss in more detail what is involved and to take some information from you. This provides an opportunity for both of us to find out more about the other before deciding whether to proceed. Only if we jointly agree, will we move to the formal assessment. You will also be expected to undertake preparatory training based on the “Skills to Foster” course produced by the national body for foster care, the Fostering Network, prior to your assessment.

The assessment process

The assessment is conducted in line with our legal obligations and the process we use is based on the British Agency for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) 2000 Form F Assessment process. We will explain this in more detail during our initial visit but in general terms:


What happens when the Assessment is completed?

At the end of the assessment, you and the social worker will have to make a decision about whether to go forward to the next stage. If the answer is yes, all the information gathered during the assessment is evaluated and presented to an independent Panel for consideration. The Panel is made up of experienced social work and education personnel, an independent foster carer plus our medical and legal advisers. They will make a recommendation about your approval as an Alpha Plus foster carer to the agency decision maker for final approval.

If the Panel or agency decision maker have any doubts – for example, in connection with your medical history, the information gained from your statutory checks or the assessment - they can ask for more information or they may refuse your application. If you are refused, you have a right of appeal. If, however, having considered the matter further, the Panel and agency decision maker are of the same mind, this decision will be final.

Now you are an approved foster carer

If your application is successful, you will become an approved carer and will be included on the Agency’s register of approved carers. You will be given a formal document – the Foster Carer Agreement – to sign. This confirms your approval and sets out our expectations of you and, in return, what you can expect from the agency. It also gives details about the terms of your approval and how this will be reviewed (see below), as well as the rights and responsibilities of any local authority placing the child.

Once appointed, induction and other regular training covering key areas and current issues will be available to you. You will be expected to attend as much training as possible as we feel this is important both in terms of gaining knowledge and information, as well as giving mutually beneficial support to carers.

The Agency will also enrol all approved carers as members of the Fostering Network, the national, voluntary organisation that offers independent support, advice and advocacy to carers.

Most importantly, you are now legally entitled to foster and provide a safe and supportive home to a child in need who will be matched to you and your family on the basis of their needs and your skills.

Reviewing Approval

Assessment is an on-going process and your performance as a carer and the quality of the support provided by Alpha Plus will be jointly reviewed at least annually. The review provides an opportunity for the agency and carer to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. It takes account of:


The first review is a legal requirement and, as such, your competencies as a carer will be considered in some detail. Following the review meeting, a written report is prepared. For your first review and then every three years, and for any other reviews where a change to the terms and conditions of your approval are recommended, this is submitted to the Fostering panel for consideration.

Any other reviews will be considered by the agency Decision Maker.

Again the agency takes full account of the Panel’s recommendations before deciding if any changes need to be made.

what about the children and young people?



Our experience of running an independent agency has given us an invaluable insight into the kind of placements local authorities require. For example, local authorities will refer children of all ages - from pre-school children up to young people aged 16+, including young women and babies – and placements are often required for sibling groups of two or more. A high proportion of referrals made to the agency are for the placement older children (11 years or older) and sibling groups.

The majority of the children will have had damaging life experiences - often having been physically, emotionally or sexually abused. They can demonstrate difficult behaviour and may find it hard to make satisfactory relationships with adults or other children. Often they have parents who themselves have abusive backgrounds and it is their behaviour which has adversely affected their children.

At Alpha Plus we recognise how important it is to secure the best possible match of carer with child. Consequently, we focus our efforts on matching a child’s assessed needs – taking in to account their gender, religion, ethnic origin, language, culture, disability and sexuality – as closely as we can to the skills, and knowledge, as well as the social and personal circumstances of the carer.

Our carers have to be flexible. Children may need to be placed immediately or with very little notice. This can be in response to an emergency situation or because the local authority has no other suitable placement. Sometimes a child may require intensive care and a level of support not available within a local authority’s own provision. Children may move on in a few days and at other times may remain for a lengthy period. Some children settle into their placements and the local authority may request that the child remains on a long-term basis. This is a decision that will need careful thought and discussion with you, your family, the child, this agency and the placing authority.

Local authorities are expected to give as much information about the child as possible, which we then pass on to you, so that together we can make an informed decision about how appropriate the proposed placement is. This also helps ensure that you have sufficient and relevant information to help you look after the child or children if they are placed with you. This information is confirmed in a Foster Placement Agreement, which is signed by the carer and the local authority, in consultation with the Agency, usually before a placement goes ahead. This document also sets out the specific arrangements that will apply, including about the care of the child, and the expectations of everyone concerned in the placement

We recognise that it is the agency's responsibility to equip you with the skills necessary to look after these children, and we do this through the assessment process and provision of training programmes tailored to meet the needs of individual carers. (See training below).

how alpha plus supports its carers



Support and advice

We understand from working with carers that support is the key to successful placements and to carers being satisfied with the service offered. As an Alpha Plus carer you will be offered 24-hour, 7 days-a-week support and advice from a team of qualified supervising social workers who are available for help with practical problems and other issues that may arise. This includes going with carers to meetings and statutory reviews. In our experience, the knowledge that someone who knows them and their child’s circumstances is only a telephone call away, provides a welcome measure of reassurance.

Home visits and supervision

Alpha Plus will arrange home visits by supervising social workers to carers on at least a monthly basis (often more frequently in your early stages of fostering or following a new placement) in addition to formal supervision every six weeks. This enables us to identify together any issues that may exist and gives us an opportunity to address them.

Training

Alpha Plus works with carers to identify and meet their training and development needs during their induction period and throughout their fostering career. Training is available for both new and experienced carers and includes the opportunity to become NVQ qualified. All our training programmes are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the needs and aspirations of individual carers. Training is held at the agency offices in Oldham and every effort is made to hold the sessions at convenient times. The agency also operates a crèche during training. This is OFSTED registered and inspected with the staff being provided by an external registered provider. Carers with childcare responsibilities are able to book places.

As well as providing information and a chance to acquire new skills, training events also provide an opportunity for group support. We have found that groups of carers who train together find it useful to exchange telephone numbers and provide each other with an informal support mechanism. This is only done with the agreement of all involved.

We give special attention to the needs of carers’ children and will arrange events specifically for them when appropriate.

Education

We believe that education plays an important part in a young person’s life. Alpha Plus has its own education support service that works with local authorities and carers to ensure that young people receive assistance to attend and attain in school. In some instances this may mean providing direct support to the young person and working with them in the classroom or in the foster home. This service is provided by appropriately qualified staff and in consultation with the local authority, the school, the carer and the young person concerned.

Social events

We also like to enjoy ourselves and throughout the year we organise a variety of social events and outings for carers, their families and children placed with them.

financial matters



Foster carers’ fees: How the fee is made up

Alpha Plus pays carers a standard weekly fee for each child placed with them.

The amount per child will be lower if we place two or more children from one family with you. This is reflected in the fee charged to the placing authority.

When are payments made?

Alpha Plus only pays the fee when a child is in placement. Whilst we make every effort to meet carer’s wishes in this area there may be occasions when you do not have a child in place and we therefore cannot give a guarantee of income on a regular basis.

Payments are made fortnightly in arrears and are adjusted annually on 1st April to take into account factors such as inflation.

What does the fee cover?

The fee is expected to meet the basic costs of looking after a child, including:


What the fee does not cover

The fee does not include costs associated with items such as:


These will be charged separately to the placing local authority.

For any other particularly costly residential trips i.e. leisure activities or non-educational school trips taken out of school time (e.g. Skiing or other trips abroad) the financial responsibility for the activity will be the subject of individual discussion between the agency Supervising Social Worker and the placing local authority. The expectation remains that children should have every opportunity to enjoy these activities and trips of this kind are not seen as an alternative to an annual holiday with foster carers. It is expected that, wherever possible, foster carers will provide a holiday each year for children placed with them.

Respite/Holiday payments

Carers are also entitled to up to two weeks annual respite/holiday, for which they receive payment. This is calculated using the standard fee for the relevant number of children in placement and is paid on a weekly pro rata basis. The agency will, having first obtained the agreement of the placing local authority, provide a respite carer for the child based on their needs and will plan the respite with you to ensure the child’s security and stability is maintained.

Other financial assistance

Alpha Plus also offers assistance with start-up costs and purchase of equipment such as beds and bedding, if required.

taxes & national insurance



The high level of remuneration paid to our carers is such that there may be tax implications.

If you become an Alpha Plus carer, you will be responsible for your own tax returns and will need to keep the Statements of Fees notifications that the agency will supply to you with each fortnightly payment. We will also provide an annual statement of all fees paid during the course of a financial year and written information outlining any changes in the tax situation.

Your actual income tax liability will depend on individual financial circumstances and the number of children placed with you. We do have an accountant who can offer advice and whose services you can use. However, because everyone’s financial circumstances are different, the responsibility for payment to the advisor lies with the individual carer.

You will be classed as self-employed and in most instances you will be required to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions. If your income is below the National Insurance threshold, you may apply for a Small Earnings Exemption certificate.

There is an Inland Revenue scheme for the taxation of foster carers which was implemented from the tax year beginning April 2003.

Briefly the scheme introduced the following: -

Where gross receipts for foster carers for a financial year fall below a threshold there will be no tax to pay on any of that money.

For receipts above this exemption threshold foster carers will be able to choose between computing their profits in the normal way for self employed persons or treating the amount by which their gross receipts exceed the threshold as their taxable profit.

It is important to note that all fees will be included in the amount of gross receipts, not just weekly fees. The gross receipts will therefore include – weekly fees, holiday respite payments, holiday allowances, clothing allowances and payments for any additional equipment or items.

The threshold will be calculated in the following way : -

A fixed amount of £10,000 per annum per household (not per carer)
(Carers will be able to decide who uses this threshold figure)

Additional amount per child:£200 per week for a child under 11
£250 per week for a child over 11

These threshold figures were set in April 2003 and it is understood they were deliberately high so that annual increases would not be necessary. It is estimated by the Fostering Network that there will be no increases for 5-6 years.

The agency can provide you with examples of calculations if required but basically this is a generous scheme and many foster carers will find themselves exempt from any tax liability. For example, there will be no tax liability for foster carers who have one child in placement for the full year with the agency’s current level of fees. Where two children are in placement for a full year the tax liability is unlikely to exceed £200 for the year. This assumes that carers have no other tax liabilities.

benefits



Fees paid to foster carers do not affect eligibility for Income Support (unless the foster child is over the age of 16 years) and this, in turn, means that Housing Benefit entitlement will not be affected. Carers can therefore continue to claim these benefits irrespective of their fostering activities. It needs to be noted however, that foster carers cannot make Child Benefit claims for children placed with them. If you have a query about a particular benefit, we will always advise you about how to proceed.

insurance



Alpha Plus has a number of insurance policies covering staff, carers and property. As an Alpha Plus carer you will have comprehensive cover, including Public Liability (indemnity limit £5 million) covering any claims for compensation made against you for injury or damage whilst you are or were a foster carer for the agency, and All Risks insurance (indemnity limit £100,000 for any one occurrence) covering damage to property by a child whilst in placement. Further details, including exemptions, are given in the Foster Care Agreement. These policies are arranged through Fosterinsure, brokers with a broad understanding of foster carers' insurance needs.

We do, however, require all carers to have their own car, house and contents insurance and to advise their insurers that they are carers for Alpha Plus. If this results in the carer having an increase or supplement to their existing premiums, we will pay the additional costs.

policies & procedures



Alpha Plus has a number of policies and procedures, which form the basis for the agency’s practice, administration and management. These include:

Copies of these and any other policies, guidance or procedures are included in the Alpha Plus Carers Handbook, which you receive when you become an approved carer.

and finally...



Our aim is to ensure that as an Alpha Plus carer you will receive the best possible service from the agency and its staff. We are confident that through the provision of such a service, the interests of the children placed will be best served and our high standards of practice will be maintained.

for more information



If you have any further queries about Alpha Plus or on becoming a foster carer, we can be contacted on:

Telephone:0161-684-2323
Mobile:07968-865011
E-mail:info@alphaplusfostering.co.uk
Or by writing to:Alpha Plus Fostering Limited
Hollinwood Business Centre
Albert Mill
Albert Street
Hollinwood
Oldham OL8 3QL

appendix



standards of care



The agency is committed to the delivery of a service meeting the standards of care detailed below, which are compatible with statutory and regulatory requirements and the UK National Standards for Foster Care and Foster Services Regulations.

In pursuit of its stated aims and objectives the agency will employ policies, practices, procedures and ways of working, which seek at all times: