Fostering

Foster care allowance and support

Generous financial allowance
Full-time foster carers for Westminster will receive a weekly fostering fee dependent on experience. Carers are liable for tax on this fee, as it is a reward. Foster carers who have a child or young person placed with them will also be in receipt of a fostering allowance. The allowance has two elements: Standard Allowance for the child and Maintenance to cover the costs of looking after the child for the carer. This allowance is not taxable and is intended to cover items such as pocket money, holidays, clothes and transport. Please see the table below for more information about the payments available. For further details about the financial support available, and payments made for the different fostering schemes, please call the Family Placement Team on 0800 0322 533.

Weekly payment for full-time fee paid foster carers
LEVEL 1           £173
LEVEL 2           £223

Weekly allowances for children and young people
0-2                 £116
3-4                 £119
5-10               £132
11-15             £150
16+                £176

Weekly allowances to be given to children and young people, from the weekly children and young people's allowance
AGE            POCKET MONEY          CLOTHING              PERSONAL NEEDS                          TOTAL
0-4                N/A                                  £8.50                         £8.50                                                £17.00
5-10              £5.00                            £11.00                        £8.50                                               £24.50
11-15            £8.00                            £13.50                        £8.50                                               £30.00
16+               £8.00                            £13.50                        £16.50                                             £38.00 + £5 
                                                                                                                                                         saving      

AGE     ANNUAL HOLIDAYS     FESTIVITIES ALLOWANCE     BIRTHDAY ALLOWANCE
0-4        £270.00                        £90.00                                                 £90.00
5-10      £300.00                        £100.00                                              £100.00
11-15    £375.00                        £125.00                                              £125.00
16+       £450.00                        £150.00                                              £125.00

24-hour support line
All Westminster carers have access to 24-hour telephone support from a professional. This service provides the opportunity for carers to air their concerns about particular aspects of their placements. The out of hours number is 07740447929.

Named Supervising Social Worker
All Westminster carers have an allocated Supervising Social Worker who will do monthly home visits. This process gives foster carers the opportunity to discuss how the placement is working and to raise any concerns. The Supervising Social Worker will also be able to advise on suitable training.

Local support group
We have found that it is useful for carers to meet regularly and share their experiences. General information from the Family Placements Team is passed on at meetings, and speakers are sometimes invited to give information on relevant topics. Some groups take place during the day and some take place during the evening so there is always one available.

Ongoing training
Westminster preparation training consists of six sessions covering topics such as understanding behaviour and safer caring. This training is available to all members of a foster carer’s household. Once approved as a foster carer, we support ongoing training in areas including coping with challenging behaviour, first aid, and trauma and bereavement in foster children. Westminster also offers NVQ training in Caring for Children and Young People Level 3 for carers to acknowledge their status as professionals.