Fostering in Ealing: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about becoming a foster carer in Ealing? You’re in a strong place to start. Ealing has a steady need for local carers across short-term, long-term, emergency, respite and specialist (therapeutic/parent & child) placements. Below, you’ll find a clear guide to allowances and fees in Ealing, the routes to foster (Council vs. IFAs), and a step-by-step application process—plus practical tips on training, tax, support, and what to expect.

Ealing’s need for foster carers (and why local carers matter)

When children from Ealing need a safe home, nearby carers make school and contact easier and help maintain community links. The borough actively recruits through Ealing Fostering Connections / Foster with Ealing, the council’s in-house team, and publishes benefits designed to retain local carers (more on those below).

Allowances and payments in Ealing (2025/26)

National minimum weekly allowances (London rates)

Every April, the government updates the national minimum fostering allowance. For 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the minimum weekly amounts for London (which includes Ealing) are: £198 (age 0–2), £201 (3–4), £225 (5–10), £257 (11–15), £299 (16–17). These figures are designed to cover the day-to-day costs of caring and sit beneath any local top-ups or skill-fees.

Tip: These are minimums. Councils and independent fostering agencies (IFAs) often add skill-based fees or supplements for complexity, experience, or specialist schemes.

Ealing Council payments and benefits

Ealing has publicly committed to making its package competitive. Its recent update introduced:

• 18.5% uplift to weekly payments (from 1 January 2025 for Bands 1–3).
• Full council tax exemption for Ealing-resident foster carers who reach Band 2 (from April 2025), and reimbursement for carers living outside the borough.
• Free borough-wide CPZ parking and free garden-waste collection.
• Allowances that include a weekly savings element for the child (administered by the carer as directed).

Exact figures vary by child’s age and your skill band/approval, so the council encourages prospective carers to talk through scenarios (for example, caring for teens, siblings, or parent-and-child). A published summary on the “Foster with your Council” hub notes Ealing can pay up to £938 per week, per child for the highest combinations of need and skill level (allowance + fee).

Why the spread? Your weekly total is usually allowance (to cover the child’s costs) + carer fee (your reward for skills/time). Complexity (e.g., therapeutic placements), age band, and experience all influence the final number.

How Ealing compares to “recommended” rates

Sector charities periodically publish recommended rates that reflect household inflation and realistic care costs. While not binding, they highlight pressure points and can support local campaigns for uplifts. It’s worth keeping an eye on updates for 2025/26 to understand the wider context of pay.

Council vs Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs): which route?

You can foster either directly with Ealing Council or with an IFA that provides carers to local authorities.

Fostering with Ealing Council

• You’re recruited, trained and supported by the in-house team.
• Priority is to place Ealing children with Ealing carers, which can reduce travel for school and contact.
• Access to council-run training, support groups, supervising social workers, and Ealing-specific benefits (e.g., council tax exemption, parking).

Fostering with an IFA

• IFAs may specialise (e.g., therapeutic or sibling groups) and sometimes advertise higher combined packages (allowance + fee) for complex placements.
• You’ll still care for children looked after by local authorities (including Ealing), but placement distance can vary depending on agency contracts.

There’s no “one right answer” for everyone. Many new carers prefer the council route for community impact and the local support net; experienced carers sometimes compare offers if they’re open to specialist placements. If you’re already approved and considering moving, you can transfer between providers—speak to both services before giving notice.

Who can foster in Ealing? Basic eligibility

You don’t need to own a home, be married, or have previous childcare qualifications. You do need to:

• Be 21+ and have the right to live in the UK.
• Have spare bedroom space (a separate room is normally required for each child; there are exceptions for infants/parent-and-child).
• Be able to provide safe, stable care and work as part of a professional team.

Health, background and home checks are part of the assessment (see below). Many carers work; agencies will discuss what’s realistic around school runs, training and contact.

How to apply: step-by-step (Ealing)

1. Initial enquiry
   Contact Ealing Fostering Connections via the council site or fostering site to request an information call/pack. You can attend an information session to explore types of fostering, payments and support.
2. Home visit / initial assessment
   A social worker discusses your motivations, home set-up, family network and availability. They’ll talk through spare-room expectations, pets and safety, and the range of placements Ealing needs.
3. Preparation training (“Skills to Foster”)
   A short foundation course gives you practical tools for trauma-informed care (boundaries, routines, education, contact) and helps you decide what you’re best suited for. Ealing runs its own prep programme.
4. Form F assessment
   This in-depth stage covers DBS, medical, references, home checks, finances and a series of reflective interviews. It results in a comprehensive report about your strengths, experience and the types of placements you’re approved for.
5. Fostering panel
   An independent panel reviews your Form F and makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker. Your assessing social worker supports you through the meeting.
6. Approval and matching
   Once approved, you’ll have a supervising social worker, and the team will start matching you with referrals—prioritising Ealing children where possible. Training continues, and you’ll join local support groups and supervisions.

Timeline: Many carers complete assessment in 4–6 months, though it can be quicker or slower depending on checks, availability for training, and gathering references. Always ask the team for current timescales. (Typical ranges are echoed across councils and IFAs.)

Training, support and supervision

• Pre-approval: prep course and home safety guidance.
• Post-approval: regular supervision, 24/7 out-of-hours support, core training (safeguarding, safer caring, recording), and optional CPD (therapeutic parenting, PACE, de-escalation).
• Peer support: Many boroughs (including West London partners) use hub models and carer groups to share best practice and reduce isolation.

Ealing also signposts carers to local education support (Virtual School) and health guidance for children looked after, ensuring school and CAMHS links are joined up quickly.

Taxes and benefits: what changes when you foster?

Foster carers are treated as self-employed for tax and can usually use Qualifying Care Relief, which simplifies self-assessment and often means little or no income tax is due on fostering income—especially for one placement at a time. You’ll still need to keep basic records and submit a return each year. (Confirm your situation with HMRC or an accountant experienced in fostering.)

Frequently asked questions (Ealing-specific)

Do I need to live in Ealing to foster for the council?
No—Ealing recruits carers who live in and around the borough. However, Ealing-resident carers can access additional perks (e.g., council tax exemption at Band 2), while out-of-borough carers can receive an equivalent reimbursement.

How much will I be paid each week?
You’ll always receive at least the national minimum allowance (London rates) and, on top, Ealing adds skill-based fees and benefits. Combined totals vary by child’s age/needs and your banding; published info indicates packages up to £938 per week, per child at the highest levels.

What about parking, travel and extras?
Ealing offers free CPZ parking for carers, and reasonable mileage/expenses are reimbursed; there’s also a child savings element included in allowances. Garden waste collection is free for carers. Always check the latest policy when you apply.

Can I foster if I rent or work full-time?
Yes. You’ll need landlord consent and to show that your working pattern supports school runs, training and contact. Discuss practicalities at the enquiry stage so your plan fits the placement types you want.

What is private fostering—and is it the same as council fostering?
No. Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) lives with someone not a close relative for 28+ days. It must be notified to the council but is different from being an approved foster carer through Ealing.

Where can I read about quality and inspections?
Ealing publishes committee papers and Ofsted updates on its website; these show service-wide improvement plans and past inspection outcomes. It’s a good way to see how the service performs over time.

How to get started today

• Visit the council site: Learn about fostering in Ealing and register your interest with Ealing Fostering Connections.
• Read the local offer: Explore benefits and the day-to-day of fostering on the Foster with Ealing pages, including taster training and event dates.
• Ask about pay and bands: Request a call-back to discuss your likely allowance + fee for the age ranges you’re open to. The team can explain the uplift, tax relief, and how to progress to higher bands.

Final word

Fostering in Ealing is a team effort: you bring stability, warmth and clear boundaries; the council brings training, 24/7 support and a payment package that recognises your commitment. If you have the space and the heart to help a child thrive, start your enquiry—and make Ealing your place to foster.