Our fostering offer across London

Fostering is a skilled role, and every London council pays and supports its foster carers as one. Each council sets its own rates, so this page shows the range across London rather than a single offer, and your local hub can tell you exactly what applies where you live.

What you could be paid

You receive a weekly payment for each child you care for, made up of an allowance that covers the cost of looking after them and a fee that recognises your time and skills. The amount depends on the child's age and needs, the kind of fostering you do and how much experience you have.

• Mainstream fostering, up to £565 per week

• Specialist and complex fostering, up to £900 per week

• Parent and child fostering, often over £1,000 per week

Payments start as soon as a child comes to live with you. For many carers they are tax-free, and in most cases they won't affect any benefits you already receive, although it's worth checking your own situation with your hub.

Extra payments through the year

Most London councils pay additional allowances so that the children you care for have the same experiences as others their age. Depending on your council, these may include:

• Birthday and religious festival payments

• Holiday allowances towards trips and breaks

• Help buying items such as a bed, cot or car seat when you start

• A reward if you refer a friend or relative who goes on to foster

• Long-service payments

Support every carer receives

Wherever you foster in London, you'll have your own supervising social worker who visits regularly and is the person you turn to for advice or when a child needs more specialist help. Someone is always available to call out of hours, and training carries on long after you're approved. You'll also receive free membership of the Fostering Network, which gives you independent advice, a helpline and member discounts.

You'll meet other carers through support groups and social events, and many councils run mentoring or peer schemes that link you with experienced carers who live nearby.

What else you may be entitled to

Some benefits are offered by individual councils and can make a real difference to how fostering works for your household, so it's worth asking your hub about them early. Depending on where you live, they may include:

• Council tax discounts, refunds or exemptions

• Therapeutic support from clinical psychologists for you and the child

• A laptop or tablet

• A Blue Light card with discounts at national and local retailers

• Free access to council leisure centres

• An annual Merlin pass for family days out

• Free parking in resident parking zones

• Help with household utility costs

Talk to your local hub

When you fill out the form below, your details go to the team for the council you live in, who can explain the offer in your area and answer questions about your own circumstances.