A small number of councils have enacted policies seeking parental contribution towards the cost of children in voluntary local authority care.
Voluntary local authority care
On 6 October, The Guardian reported that Derbyshire County Council was considering asking parents to pay towards the cost of children in voluntary local authority care.
This follows Brighton & Hove, Lancashire and East Sussex County Councils already having adopted a similar policy.
Derbyshire indicated that it would seek 50% of the cost of accommodating and looking after children who had been placed in their care on a voluntary basis, from eligible parents. Those on certain benefits would not need to contribute and the policy would not apply when a child is subject to a Court order placing them in the care of the Local Authority.
The council policies arise from the increased financial pressures most local authorities find themselves under.
A limited number of councils have enacted these policies and it appears that they rarely recoup costs from parents, perhaps because of families’ own financial difficulties. It is perhaps reflective of the very poor state of funding for many local authorities that some are seeking contributions to look after children who are among the most vulnerable in society.
If you need more information or advice on issues surrounding voluntary local authority care, please contact our Children team or call us on 0345 450 5558 or email enquiries@stephens-scown.co.uk