Further to minute 344 (18 March 2010), the Interim Director of Children’s Services provided Members with an update on the financial support being provided to Special Guardians and provided details of a revised policy for financial support for Special Guardianship and Assisted Residence Orders. The revised policy ensured that financial support would be provided only to those families that would be unable to care for the child without such support and he confirmed that it complied with the Council’s legal requirements under the Children Act 1989, the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Council agrees to implement the policy for financial support for Special Guardianship and Assisted Residence Orders from 1 April 2011, as outlined in the report of the Interim Director of Children’s Services.

(2)  That a further report be presented on a Policy for Financial Support to Adopters and Potential Adopters.