Fostering support and allowances available

Foster carers are never on their own. We will support you from the moment you first contact us, through the fostering assessment process, and throughout your whole time fostering children in Central Bedfordshire.

Allowances and benefits for being a foster carer or parent

As a foster carer, you will receive:

• a foster carer fee and allowances

• a welcome fee of £1,000 (paid to new foster carers after caring for a child for six weeks or on a pro rata basis if you provide respite for children)

• 14 nights of paid respite care per financial year

Foster care support also includes:  

• a dedicated social worker who will visit you regularly

• a daily duty worker for when your social worker is not available

• out of office hours support, including weekends

• support from clinicians and wellbeing professionals

• mentoring by local and experienced foster carers

• free and local training

• social groups and events for foster carers to meet and support each other

• support for your own children, including training and activities

• detailed background information about the children we ask you to care for

• opportunities to meet with managers to share your ideas and feedback

• an annual celebration and awards event

• a long service payment for Central Bedfordshire foster carers. This is paid every five years you foster (for example, you will receive £500 on your five-year anniversary, this increases by £500 for every 5 years of service)

Read more about fostering payments, allowances and benefits.

Interested? Request an information pack or a callback

Request an information pack

Telephone: 0300 300 8181

About our fostering service

Our fostering service has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Our wonderfully diverse community of foster carers also agree that they are happy and proud to be part of Central Bedfordshire’s fostering team.

You can read our latest report on the Ofsted website.