Income Support: Disregard for Professional Fostering

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

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The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 18 September 2014:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2014-0124
Decision Summary Title :	IS disregard for fostering payments 20140903		Date of Decision Summary:	05 September 2014
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR - IS disregard for fostering payments 20140903		Date of Written Report:	03 September 2014
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	N/A
Subject: Income Support disregard for professional fostering
Decision(s): The Minister decided to disregard a fixed sum of the income received by professional foster parents
Reason(s) for Decision: The Minister decided to put in place limited measures to assist the fostering service in potentially recruiting new participants from amongst the families receiving Income Support. Many families will already have a member who is exempt from jobseeking to look after children. For ‘connected persons’ wishing to adopt a fostered child, the Minister decided that in these cases the child can be included in the Income Support household once it has been adopted. Any top-up fees will be monitored, but fully disregarded. Procedures will be put in place to monitor to ensure that top-up fees payable in respect of disabled children are offset against any disability award from Income Support, to ensure that foster parents are not overpaid.
Resource Implications: There will be no manpower implications for this change. The financial implication is negligible and will be absorbed into the existing budget of Income Support.
Action required: Policy Principal to amend the Income Support Determining officer’s Guidelines to reflect this change
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):