Fostering in Hillingdon: Allowances, Training and Panel

Thinking about fostering with Hillingdon Council? Here’s a clear, practical guide to what you could receive financially, the training you’ll complete before approval, and how the fostering panel works—so you know exactly what to expect from enquiry to approval and beyond.

Allowances and what Hillingdon pays

National minimum (baseline). Every foster placement must at least meet the National Minimum Allowance (NMA) for England, which varies by region and child’s age. For 6 April 2025–5 April 2026, the London band weekly minimums are: £198 (0–2), £201 (3–4), £225 (5–10), £257 (11–15), £299 (16–17). These figures are meant to cover a child’s day-to-day costs; agencies can and often do pay more.

Hillingdon’s enhanced package. Hillingdon has publicly promoted one of London’s most competitive offers. The council states foster carers can earn up to £1,500 per week depending on the child’s needs, and also receive: a 25% Council Tax reduction, £1,000 per year utilities allowance (towards gas/electricity and checks), a winter fuel allowance, and a family Merlin Platinum Pass (access to attractions like LEGOLAND®, Alton Towers, Warwick Castle and SEA LIFE). These incentives are in addition to the child’s allowance and any skill/fee element.

UASC allowances in Hillingdon. For carers supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), Hillingdon’s published range for the foster carer’s allowance is about £377 to £448 per week, age-dependent, with additional setup funding for clothing/equipment discussed during assessment.

Allowance vs fee—know the difference. The allowance is for the child’s living costs. A separate carer fee/skill payment recognises your time, skills and professional commitment. Local authorities and independent fostering agencies structure this differently, but Hillingdon’s “up to £1,500” headline reflects complex/therapeutic placements and add-ons on top of the minimum. Always ask for a written breakdown (allowance + fee + extras) for your placement type.

Useful tip: Check what’s included beyond the weekly rate—birthday/holiday/festive payments, mileage, equipment, retainers and respite rates. If you’re caring for a child with higher-than-typical needs, speak with your supervising social worker about top-ups or exceptional payments; Hillingdon confirms additional setup funding is considered in assessment.

Pre-approval training: Skills to Foster and local support

Before panel, you’ll complete pre-approval preparation training—commonly known as Skills to Foster—to understand the fostering role, safeguarding, safer caring, recording, and how support networks work in practice. Hillingdon’s own documents confirm Skills to Foster is part of Stage One preparation.

Across the sector, Skills to Foster is typically delivered over several sessions (often equivalent to three days) in small cohorts so applicants can learn together and ask real-world questions. Your training will cover attachment and trauma, working with schools and health, contact with birth family, allegations and safer caring, and daily recording for reports.

Local wrap-around support. Once you’re in assessment and, later, approved, a supervising social worker (SSW) is your first point of contact for help with placement matching, training and development, and day-to-day problem-solving. Hillingdon emphasises ongoing support from experienced SSWs throughout your fostering journey.

The Hillingdon fostering process at a glance

Hillingdon lays out a straightforward step-by-step: initial enquiry, a quick call-back (usually within two working days), a home visit if you meet basic criteria, then a formal assessment that includes checks (DBS, medicals, references), home study visits, and pre-approval training before panel.

Typical timeline. Most applicants complete assessment in several months, depending on availability for visits/training and how quickly checks come back. Use the pre-panel phase to build your safer caring policy, prepare your home (bedroom, storage for meds/files), and gather evidence for your Form F (experience with children, resilience, support network, understanding of safeguarding).

Why choose the council route? Hillingdon highlights additional benefits for in-house carers, including the financial package above and an “Outstanding” Ofsted reputation cited on its public pages (alongside carer stories and process info). It’s worth attending an info session to compare in-house support with independent agencies and decide which model fits your family.

The Fostering Panel: what it is and how it works in Hillingdon

What the panel does. Hillingdon’s Fostering Panel reviews assessments and makes a recommendation to the Agency Decision Maker (ADM) about your approval—e.g., whether to approve and the terms of approval (such as age range or number of children). The panel also monitors the range of carers available in relation to children’s needs and helps drive standards across the service.

Who sits on panel? Expect a mix of professionals and independent members—often including experienced social workers, health/education specialists, and people with lived experience (e.g., care-experienced adults or foster carers). You’ll be invited to attend part of the meeting to answer questions about your assessment and training. The ADM makes the final decision after considering panel’s recommendation.

After approval. Many councils—including Hillingdon via the West London partnership site—note that you’ll return to panel around your first review (typically at the 12-month mark) to consider how your first year has gone and whether your approval terms should change. Subsequent reviews are usually annual and can be referred to panel if needed.

Matching and early placements

When referrals arrive, your SSW will check them against your approval terms and family circumstances. You should receive key details (age, needs, school, contact plans, health, risks) to help you decide. It’s fine—and expected—to ask questions or decline a match that isn’t right for your household; good matching supports stability for everyone.

Hillingdon’s mix of placement types includes short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, and specialist fostering (including UASC). If you’re interested in a specific route—such as therapeutic or UASC placements—say so during assessment so your training and post-approval development plan can reflect that.

Practical next steps

• Attend an information event (online or in person) to ask about allowances, fee tiers, and add-ons for the kind of placements you hope to offer. Hillingdon’s site keeps this information updated and provides a direct enquiry form.
• Request a written financial breakdown for a typical placement in your home (child’s allowance + your fee + extras like mileage, birthday/holiday, retainer and respite). Cross-check against the 2025/26 London NMA so you understand the baseline.
• Prepare for Skills to Foster by reading up on safer caring, trauma-informed approaches and recording. Bring questions about real-life routines (contact, school runs, pocket money, digital safety).
• Get your documents ready: identity, references, GP medical, DBS. If you rent, line up your landlord’s written consent for fostering—this can save time in Stage One.

Bottom line

Hillingdon combines the London NMA baseline with an enhanced local package (up to £1,500/week on complex placements, 25% Council Tax reduction, utilities/winter fuel support and a Merlin Pass), plus structured pre-approval training and a clear panel process. If you want to foster in West London with strong wrap-around support, it’s a compelling option. Start with an enquiry, book a prep session, and use your assessment period to get panel-ready—then you’ll hit the ground running when the right match arrives.