Public fostering
Public fostering is where the local authority arranges for the child to live with a foster carer(s). This may be done through the local authority’s own fostering service or through an arrangement with a voluntary organisation – eg, Barnardo’s or Action for Children. This type of fostering is governed by the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009. All public foster carers must be approved by the local authority.1Reg 2 LAC(S) Regs A child who is in public foster care is ‘looked after’ by the local authority. The information in this chapter is aimed at public fostering arrangements and the term ‘foster carers’ is used to mean public foster carers.
Foster carers are usually paid a fostering allowance and also a ‘fee’. There are no national set rates for fostering allowances or fees and the amount paid may vary depending on the local authority or fostering agency.2Payment of fostering allowances is governed by reg 33 LAC(S) Regs.