The Homefinding and Fostering Agency pay a professional fee to all foster carers that reflects the some times complex nature of looking after children.

The fee payment is not ‘attached’ to the child's age or their behaviour.

We recognise that fostering can be complex and the fee recognises:

Time commitment

Fostering is very time consuming and can preclude carers being otherwise employed or limits their opportunities for employment. Fostering, like looking after your own children, is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At times, carers need to be available for children at very short notice because of illness, school exclusion or meetings.

Fee payments 52 weeks a year.

Some carers rely on their fostering fee as an income. However, we recognise that when a complex placement ends, families may need a few weeks together on their own. When a foster child is not in placement, no fee is paid. Effectively, all carers are self-employed.

Training, expertise and qualifications

We expect all our carers to attend training as this is an essential part of your development.

Level of skills/experience required for a placement.

We recognise that all our carers are highly skilled individuals, couples or families.

Safe Care

We acknowledge that some foster carers are regularly required to make decisions with high levels of risk e.g. those caring for adolescents with very challenging behaviour, young babies suffering from drug withdrawal or foetal alcohol syndrome, or those with profound disabilities who can require life saving interventions. Whilst all these decisions are made with the support of the agency and social worker, aspects of foster care are risky.

Working with other agencies, professionals and/or birth parents

We expect all our carers to be professional in all aspects of their care to children and working with other agencies. This can require considerable skill, a good knowledge base and self-confidence.

Being self employed.

The current rules mean many UK foster carers now pay no tax on the money they earn from fostering. Foster carers are exempt from tax on the first £10,000 per year of their fostering income. After that, they get tax relief for every week (or part week) that a child is in their care.