Payment for Skills

Payment for Skills is an additional weekly payment made to foster carers in recognition of the different levels of knowledge, skills and contribution to the wider fostering service.

The current Payment for Skills Framework has 3 levels:​

  • Foundation
  • Skilled​
  • Advanced. ​

Your skill level will be reviewed as part of your review. If you'd like to apply for a skill level increase before your review, you can apply for enhanced Payment for Skills payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Payment for Skills?

Payment for Skills is an additional weekly payment made to Foster Carers in recognition of the different experience, knowledge, and skills they have, working over and above the day to day fostering role to benefit the children and young people they care for, other children and foster carers within the service, and the wider service.

How many Payment for Skills levels are there?

There are three levels of Payment for Skills: Foundation, Skilled and Advanced.

All Foster Carers are expected to competently fulfil their role and responsibilities, meet the Fostering National Minimum Standards, and the Training, Support and Development Standards, including minimum and mandatory training requirements and minimum support group attendance, to maintain their approval as Foster Carers and be Foundation Level.

What additional criteria do I have to meet to progress to Skilled or Advanced Levels?

In addition to the expectations of all Foster Carers above:

Skilled Level:

  • Level 3 Diploma or relevant transferable training plus two years active fostering experience or five years relevant fostering experience.
  • Written Statement evidencing four pieces of child focused work and three pieces of work for the wider service which reflect on what you did, the impact and outcome.

Advanced Level:

  • All relevant transferable training plus five years active fostering experience or 10 years relevant fostering experience.
  • Written Statement evidencing six pieces of child focused work and seven pieces of work for the wider service which reflect on what you did, the impact and outcome.

Do I have to complete an academic qualification (Diplomas Level 3 or 4 or relevant transferable training) to progress to Skilled or Advanced Levels?

No, you do not have to complete a qualification to meet criteria for a higher skills level, although successful completion of the Diploma/s (or relevant transferable training) does mean you are likely to meet the criteria more quickly, provided you have either two years (for Skilled) or five years (for Advanced) active fostering experience alongside this and can provide the additional evidence above.

If undertaking a qualification (or relevant transferable training) does not interest or suit you, then five years (for Skilled) or ten years (for Advanced) fostering experience will meet criteria for progression along with the evidence above.

What is ‘relevant transferable training’?

For prior training completed by a Foster Carer to be considered as relevant and transferable in making your application for Skilled or Advanced Payment for Skills, this must be academically equivalent and have covered the same or very similar subject areas to the Level 3 Advanced Skills in Foster Care or Level 4 Diploma in Expert Practice in working with Traumatised Children that Kent Fostering offer in partnership with the providers. If you think that you have relevant transferable training then please contact Sue Douglas, Training Coordinator who will ask you to complete a previous qualification form and then undertake a matching process which includes consideration of when the prior qualification was undertaken and its application to subsequent job roles. A decision will then be made regarding whether qualifications are relevant and transferable.

Will I be expected to increase my Payment for Skills Level?

No, it is entirely up to you whether you make an application for a higher Payment for Skills Level and the level that you are paid is personal and private to you. All Foster Carers, no matter what their Payment for Skills Level, undertake complex and specialised work which requires expertise, training, and experience over and above the level of skills needed for 'ordinary' parenting. Skilled and Advanced Levels are an additional way for us to reward Foster Carers who want and can use that experience, knowledge, and skill for the benefit of others and the wider service.

What paperwork must be submitted to the Payment for Skills Panel?

  • Fostering Social Worker Payment for Skills Statement
  • Most recent Foster Carer Annual Review
  • Foster Carer Payment for Skills Statement of Evidence (either included in the Annual Review or as a statement when Payment for Skills is being considered between Annual Reviews)

If I have completed Standard 7 of my Annual Review, do I have to submit a separate Payment for Skills Statement?

No. You only need to complete the separate statement if you are applying for a higher skills level in between Annual Reviews. Please ensure that whether you are writing Standard 7 or the separate statement that you clearly evidence the relevant criteria, stating what you have done, the impact for the child/young person/foster carer / wider service and outcome.

When does my paperwork for Payment for Skills have to be submitted?

Please discuss with your Fostering SW when they need your statement of evidence (either in the Annual Review or as a separate statement) for Payment for Skills because they will need sufficient time to prepare their own report in support of your application.

The Fostering Social Worker will then submit all paperwork to the Payment for Skills Panel a minimum of two weeks ahead of the panel date.

How often are Payment for Skills Panels held?

There are four virtual panels a year, held quarterly and your fostering social worker and team manager will have these dates.

Who sits on the Payment for Skills Panel?

Independent Chairperson

Fostering Team Manager

Nominated Decision Maker

Foster Carer

Reviewing Team Manager

Minute Taker (non-voting)

When will I receive my decision?

Decision letters will usually be e-mailed to Foster Carers and their FSW/Team Manager informed of the decision by close of play on the Monday following the Payment for Skills Panel.

When will my payments change?

From the date of Payment for Skills Panel.

When will my holiday payment change?

From the 1st April immediately following the Payment for Skills Panel.

Does sessional work count as evidence towards my payment for skills?

Yes.

Does supervision of family time (contact) for children / young people not in my care, commissioned and supported via the contact centre count as evidence towards my payment for skills?

Yes.

How can my Fostering Social Worker support me to identify evidence towards my payment for skills?

Foster Carer/s are encouraged to bring to supervision examples of where the child focused and wider contribution criteria have been met and reflect what they have done, how and the impact or outcome for the child/children or service.

This is helpful to do on an ongoing basis in supervision throughout the year to prepare for Annual Review and provides an opportunity to think with the Fostering Social Worker about other ways contributions can be made and plans put in place to achieve this.

Can I only apply for an increase in skills level at the time of my Annual Review?

Foster Carers can submit evidence to the Payment for Skills Panel for progression to a higher skills level at any time, provided that the Fostering Reviewing Officer supports in the most recent Annual Review that a higher skills level was being worked towards and the Foster Carer demonstrates all criteria at the time of submitting evidence to the Payment for Skills Panel has been met.

In the Annual Review immediately following the Payment for Skills Panel where a higher skills level has been agreed (regardless of how soon this takes place), the Foster Carer will still need to complete the Payment for Skills Statement within Standard 7 of their paperwork to include any new evidence and how they have continued to meet the new skills level. The Reviewing Officer can then make a judgement about whether that level is maintained and it will continue to be reviewed in line with the Annual Review.

Do I have to submit paperwork to Payment for Skills Panel to maintain my current level?

No. Your Fostering Reviewing Officer in your Annual Review will assess this.

Do I have to submit paperwork to Payment for Skills Panel if I agree that my Payment for Skills Level reduce?

No. Provided that a recommendation for your Payment for Skills Level to reduce has been fully discussed with and is agreed by you, there is no need for this to be presented to Payment for Skills Panel and payments can reduce at a date agreed with your Fostering Reviewing Officer.

What should I do if I am not in agreement with the recommendation of my Annual Review regarding my Payment for Skills Level?

Your Fostering Reviewing Officer will make a clear a recommendation based on the evidence provided by you, your Fostering Social Worker and Team Manager, as to whether the criteria are met to remain on the current level, progress to a higher level or revert to a lower level. If you are not in agreement with the recommendation, papers will be presented to Payment for Skills Panel and a decision made by the Nominated Decision Maker. If you do not agree with this decision, you can present new evidence back to the next Payment for Skills Panel, where a final decision will be made.

How can I best evidence my wider service contribution?

When carers are involved in any area of work for the wider service, the person responsible for the work should feedback in an e-mail to both Foster Carer and Fostering Social Worker that the work has taken place and give some feedback. This encourages a continual gathering of evidence by the Foster Carer throughout the year to support the Annual Review and Payment for Skills process.

If you do not receive feedback, please do not hesitate to request this.

How can Foster Carers child focused or wider service contribution evidence be weighted fairly?

Not every piece of work can and will be the same time commitment and effort, however across the total evidence submitted for Payment for Skills, the time and effort put in should usually balance out and your Fostering Social Worker and Fostering Reviewing Officer will take this into consideration. There are also certain pieces of work for the wider service such as sessional work, Skills to Foster Trainer, Foster Carer Ambassador and interview panel member for example that can still be used as evidence for Payment for Skills and yet attract payment so the rewards for carers also balance out. It is helpful to think about one piece of evidence as one unit of work or project.

What are some examples of wider contribution?

The wider contribution criteria are broadly separated into Mentoring & Support, Promoting Kent Fostering, Promoting Learning & Development, and Contributing to Service Development. There are numerous ways these criteria can be met and new ideas are welcomed from Foster Carers all the time. The following are some ideas for how Foster Carers have met criteria over the last couple of years:

Mentor and support other carers:

  • Mentor for Prospective/New Carers in the assessment period and first year of fostering in accordance with the New Carer Mentor Guidance (involves the completion of a mentor profile, meeting with the carers on three occasions throughout the assessment and supporting them complete their family safe care plan for example).
  • Mentor/Counsel for another carer/s going through a particular challenge or undertaking a new task that the Mentor has experience of (e.g. adoption, Special Guardianship, Parent and Child Arrangements, Disabled Children, and Young People, Staying Put) that has been requested and agreed by the Fostering Team / Fostering Service.
  • Trained Peer Mentor supporting another Foster Carer/s subject to allegation or complaint as agreed by the Fostering Team/Fostering Service.
  • Active member of Kent Association of Foster Carers, supporting events and initiatives in collaboration with Kent Fostering Service.
  • Active member of committees designed to provide or improve experience of Foster Carers and children / young people (i.e. Area social committees, Foster Carer Advisory Board).
  • Agreed sessional work.
  • Family Time supervision agreed with Fostering Social Worker/Team Manager and for which carer has been trained and supported/supervised by the Contact Centre.
  • Day Care as agreed by Fostering Social Worker/Team Manager for specific benefit of child/young person and Foster Carer.
  • Informal / Ad hoc support to other Foster Carers at times of need (i.e., with school runs for significant period, support with challenging time in personal life).

Promote KCC Fostering Recruitment:

  • Present your experience of fostering at a Virtual Information Event (to involve liaison with the Recruitment Coordinator, attendance at the virtual test run, preparation of presentation, attending and presenting on the evening and be available for follow up questions with enquirers who want to speak with a Foster Carer).
  • Morning or Afternoon of manning an Information Stand at the request of the Recruitment Coordinator / Fostering Team Manager with the Recruitment or Assessment Teams, speaking directly to potential foster carers and encouraging applications to foster.
  • Liaison / follow up calls at the request of the Fostering Service with Foster Carers considering transferring to Kent Fostering and wanting to know more about the service from a current Foster Carers perspective.
  • Showcasing and promoting the recruitment of foster carers and the fostering service through regular and active likes, shares and positive comments on Kent Fostering Facebook page.
  • Interviews with media (print, online, radio, tv etc) at the request of the Recruitment Coordinator / Fostering Team Manager to promote Kent Fostering.
  • Recruitment Champion (application and appointment to the role of Recruitment Champion attending regular meetings with the Recruitment Coordinator and other Champions to develop new content for Kent Fostering’s online and social platforms i.e. Facebook, website, blogs). Applications to become Recruitment Champions are invited through the Fostering Newsletter every six months.
  • Creating a piece of content for Kent Fostering to feature on Facebook / other appropriate channels at the request/in discussion with the Recruitment Coordinator (i.e. writing a profile of you and your fostering experience, an article with a specific fostering focus (i.e. parent and child, disabled children, day in the life of a foster carer, benefits of support groups for foster carers), collating information/feedback from the children you have looked after such as poems, thank you letters, written pieces from your own children – young or adult – about growing up in a fostering family).
  • Identifying and liaising with appropriate venues to display Kent Fostering banners, posters, leaflets, and distributing these to help advertise Kent Fostering and ensure representation across communities in the county.
  • Promoting Fostering for Kent within own community groups, discussing the role, expectations, rewards, and challenges, directing interested people to the Initial Enquiries Team for further discussion, which results in application to the service.

Promote learning and development within the service

  • Co-facilitate a Skills to Foster Course at the request and with the Assessment Teams.
  • Attend the Skills to Foster evening session talking with prospective foster carers, sharing your experiences and answering questions.
  • Co-facilitate the Reflective Fostering Program alongside Fostering Social Worker or another training as requested and agreed with the Training Coordinator.
  • Co-facilitate a Foster Carer Support Group, preparing information with a specific focus / utilising an area of your expertise and presenting this to colleagues at the group (i.e. preparing children for adoption, working with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, caring for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder), making yourself available for questions afterwards and informal support to carers.
  • Co-facilitate a series of groups to support and develop Foster Carers (i.e. Training, Support, Development Standards (TSDS) Group for new carers alongside Fostering Social Worker / Social Work Assistant, Male Foster Carer Group, Listening Groups).
  • Support other Foster Carers with an identified training and development need as requested and agreed by your Fostering Social Worker / Team Manager (i.e. Diary Records on The Childrens Portal, Diploma qualifications, TSDS Portfolio).
  • Attend and present to Social Work Students or Newly Qualified Social Workers with the Fostering Service to help Children’s Social Workers understand fostering and the role and responsibilities of Foster Carers.
  • Attend and present at training events/conferences (i.e. Fostering Service Morning) about particular area of practice at request of Fostering Service.

Contribute to service development

  • Support Kent Fostering through membership, attendance and active contribution on different consultation groups (i.e. Foster Carer Ambassadors, Foster Carers Advisory Board).
  • Membership of smaller working groups as requested and agreed by the Fostering Service to feedback about areas of service delivery that may need improvement and develop new ways of working.
  • Undertake independent (agreed and approved) tasks to improve or support the wider service.
  • Provide information and feedback for new or revised policies and guidance where this has an impact on service development / improvement.
  • Support Kent Fostering through OFSTED inspections (i.e. to give balanced feedback to inspectors through group or individual interview, presentations).
  • Support Kent Fostering through representation at other Fostering Forums (i.e local, national feedback such as Fostering Stocktake and as requested/agreed by Fostering Service).
  • Membership and attendance on a Governing Body (i.e. early years, education, charities) of another organisation to actively raise the profile and needs of Children and Young People in Care.
  • Be a Foster Carer representative on an interviewing panel for staff within Kent Fostering / the Local Authority.
  • Foster Carer Representative on Adoption Panel.
  • Foster Carer Representative on Corporate Parenting Panel.

Who do I contact if I want to become an Ambassador, be involved with training, co-facilitate a support group or help with recruitment for example?

In the first instance please always discuss these opportunities or new ideas you may have to support children and young people in care, foster carers or the wider service, with your Fostering Social Worker. However, the following contacts within the service may also be of help:

Gugulethu Khumalo, fosteringrecruitmentcoordinator@kent.gov.uk for information and recruitment events, social media/Facebook page, website, Recruitment Champions, press opportunities, marketing etc.

Sue.douglas@kent.gov.uk: Training Coordinator for all foster carer training, workshops, conferences.

Angela.Cornwell@Kent.gov.uk Fostering Recruitment, Assessments, Panels and Training Team Manager for co facilitation of Skills to Foster training and participation at Skills to Foster evenings.

Angela.Cornwell@Kent.gov.uk Fostering Recruitment, Assessments, Panels and Training Team for practice development.

To qualify for foundation level you must:

In return you will get:

To qualify for skilled level you must:

  • meet all of the foundation level requirements
  • have completed a Level 3 Diploma and have 2 years active fostering experience, or 5 years relevant fostering experience
  • have written a statement evidencing what you did, the impact it had and the outcome for:

In return you will get:

To qualify for advanced level you must:

  • meet all of the foundation and skilled level requirements
  • have completed a Level 4 Diploma and have 5 years active fostering experience, or 10 years relevant fostering experience
  • have written a statement evidencing what you did, the impact it had and the outcome for:

In return you will get:

Read the policy

For more information read the Payment for Skills Policy (PDF, 324.1 KB).