Council criticised for cutting support to couple asked to be special guardians

Bedford Borough Council unfairly cut the financial support to a couple, after asking them to become special guardians to the children they were fostering.

That finding has come in a report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who said special guardians deserve the right advice and support from councils before taking on the role.

Bedford applied for an order for the couple without fully involving them or properly explaining it would review their financial support.

The couple had said they did not wish to accept the arrangements if it meant they would receive less income than they did as professional foster carers.

Bedford agreed during the Ombudsman’s investigation to restore the support to the level the couple received as foster carers, and backdate payments they had missed. It will also pay the couple £500 for their distress.

The Ombudsman, Michael King, said: “Bedford Borough Council simply didn’t follow best practice in advising, involving and consulting with the couple. However, I welcome its acceptance of our findings and its offer to restore the family’s support.

“In addition, I have used our powers to recommend how the council should improve its procedures in the hope that other potential special guardians will not be placed in the same position.”

The couple had fostered two young siblings for around 18 months before the council approached them to be special guardians.

Bedford filed a support plan with the order, but did not share this in advance even though it said the couple would be expected to claim welfare benefits, with their value deducted from their allowance.

Bedford said that following the investigation it would now ensure that all special guardianship support plans made clear the council’s intentions on financial support and would be discussed with prospective guardians giving them 28 days to comment, with financial implications fully explained. 

A council spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise to the family affected by this for any difficulties and anxiety our action may have caused.”