The amount of money our foster carers is paid depends on their skills and experience, combined with the age and number of children they are looking after.
We provide generous allowances to cover the cost of fostering. This is to pay for food, clothes, pocket money, toys and games, bus/tram fares, sports and leisure activities, days out, toiletries/cosmetics etc. The allowances are as follows:
0 to 4 years = £133 per week
5 to 10 years = £147 per week
11 to 15 years = £169 per week
16+ years = £196 per week
In addition to the allowance, we also make a weekly ‘skills fee’ payment to foster carers, which increases in line with their knowledge and experience. An additional weekly payment of £50 is made to carers for each child they look after who is aged 11 or older.
Below is a simple table which shows the combined total of how much foster carers will receive per child. All newly approved foster carers start at Level 1.
Age
Allowance and level 1 skills fee
Allowance and level 2 skills fee
Allowance and level 3 skills fee
Allowance and level 4 skills fee
0-4 years
£183
£223
£308
Bespoke package
5-10 years
£197
£237
£322
Bespoke package
11-15 years
£269
£309
£394
Bespoke package
16+ years
£296
£336
£421
Bespoke package
Allowances are also paid for a variety of other reasons, such as school trips, school uniform where a child has to change schools, if any special equipment is required etc. Mileage incurred for school runs, contact meetings, medical appointments etc is paid at a rate of 45 pence per mile.