Payments and rewards

How much and how often you will be paid as a foster carer is an important element within your overall consideration process. Foster carers perform an essential role, so whilst money should not be a primary motivation, it is right that you are properly remunerated for the hard work and care you will provide.

Your payment will consist of two parts

The payment each Foster Carer receives consists of an allowance and a fee.

  • Allowance: Foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance which is designed to cover the cost of caring for a fostered child. This covers things such as food, clothes and toiletries. The allowance depends on the type of fostering you do, the age of the young person in your care, and the number of years you have been fostering.
  • Fee: Fee payments are made on top of the allowance to recognise a foster carers’ time, skills and experience.

 

We are delighted to announce that the Children Families and Schools Committee have agreed to increase the fostering allowances we pay to Brighton & Hove City Council Foster Carers in recognition of the incredible job they do looking after our children in care, and in acknowledgment of the increased cost of living.

We have aligned the age banding of the care element of the allowances with the National Minimum Allowances (NMA) recommended by the Government. So with effect from 1.7.23 allowances are to be paid against the following age bands:

0-2 years £173 per week
3-4 years £180 per week
5-10 years £220 per week
11-15 years £266 per week
16-17 years £303 per week

 

Skills Payments 

We have simplified the Skills Payments made to foster carers to 2 Levels:

  • Level 1 Carer

Pre completion of the Training Support Development Standards (TSDS) and 7 mandatory training courses - £175 per week

  • Level 2 Carer

Post completion of the Training Support Development Standards (TSDS), 7 mandatory training courses and any training identified in foster carer's PDP - £271 per week

 

Placement Fees (Care Element + Skills)

Standard Foster Placement £348 to £574 per week

 

Specialist Fostering Placements (as approved by Head of Service)

Enhanced Placement £587 to £670 per week
Fostering Plus Placement £910 per week
Parent & Child Placement £1,114 per week

 

Thank You Retention Payment

£250 in July and December

 

Agency or Local Authority Carer Transfer

If you are an agency or other Local Authority carer and are transferring to Brighton & Hove, we will either match or exceed your current allowance and fee. This will depend on what you are currently in receipt of and we will discuss this with you.

 

Additional benefits

As a foster carer you are also entitled to a range of benefits and discounts. We will pay for you to become a member of The Fostering Network, who work continually to secure a range of discounts. Current discounts include;

  • 52% off tickets for a host of attractions across the UK, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures theme parks, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE centres and sanctuaries, Blackpool Tower Circus and Eye and much more.
  • 10% off entry at Go Ape outdoor adventure centres.
  • Up to 10% off holidays and short breaks with Haven, Hoseasons and cottages.com.
  • 15% off a huge range of arts and craft supplies from Baker Ross.
  • 10% off online orders from Foyles, the independent bookstore.
  • 40% off online orders of party games from Big Potato Games
  • £10 off any three-month subscription to Little Cooks Co
  • 10% discount on home insurance policies through Towergate Insurance
  • Specialist mortgage advice and a discounted arrangement fee of £150 for a completed mortgage with The Mortgage Brain
  • A fixed fee / discounted tax return service with Williams Giles

 

Tax, National Insurance and benefits

All foster carers are treated as self-employed for tax purposes. It can feel daunting to understand how fostering affects your tax and National Insurance contributions, but The Fostering Network have a range of resources to help Foster Carers better understand what it means for them and their finances, and our team are available to talk you through any questions you may have.

Here are some helpful links;

 

Fostering alongside employment 

Becoming a foster carer does not have to mean giving up employment. It’s true that foster carers are expected to be available to care for children, support contact between a child and their family and to attend meetings, training and support groups, but depending on your circumstances, you can sometimes foster and continue to work flexible hours; it just may make a difference to the type of fostering that you can do. Visit our fostering alongside employment page for more information.