Fostering in Kent: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about fostering in Kent? You’re in the right place. This guide brings together the key information prospective carers ask for—what you’re paid (allowances vs fees), who you can foster with (local authority vs agencies), and exactly how the application works—with local detail for Kent. Throughout, we’ll show where Silver Lining Fostering Agency fits in and how we support you from first enquiry through approval and beyond.

Kent at a glance: demand, support and how the system works

Kent is one of England’s largest fostering areas and runs a well-established county service alongside a number of independent fostering agencies (IFAs) like Silver Lining Fostering Agency. The county participates in the Local Authority Fostering South East recruitment hub—an initiative that brings 17 councils together to make first steps simpler and keep more children close to home.

Across England, there is sustained demand for new foster carers, particularly for siblings, teenagers, and parent-and-child arrangements. National news reports and sector evidence continue to highlight a shortage of carers—so if you’re considering it, your enquiry genuinely matters.

Allowances in Kent: what you’re paid and what it’s for

National Minimum Allowances (NMA)

England sets National Minimum Allowances every April. For 2025/26 (6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026), the minimum weekly rates vary by age and region: London, South East, and Rest of England. Kent falls within the South East band. Remember, the allowance covers a child’s day-to-day living costs (food, clothing, utilities, school transport, activities). It is separate from any carer fee or skill payment you may receive.

Local practice: Kent County Council

Kent County Council’s fostering pages explain that payments are made up of two parts: a maintenance (child) allowance and a reward/fee for the carer. Kent also highlights that certain specialist arrangements—such as parent & child—attract higher weekly totals due to the complexity and intensity of support required. Exact figures vary by placement type and the child’s needs, and Kent publishes an annual Payment Policy outlining how rates are structured and when top-ups apply.

Good to know: In addition to the basic weekly allowance, many services pay for mileage, equipment, and special occasions (e.g., birthdays/holidays). Always ask for a written breakdown so you can budget confidently. For national background on help with the cost of fostering, see GOV.UK.

Tax relief for foster carers (2025/26)

Most foster carers benefit from Qualifying Care Relief (QCR), which can reduce (and often eliminate) tax on fostering income. For 2025/26, HMRC sets a fixed annual household amount plus a weekly amount per person cared for. This “qualifying amount” is used to work out whether any of your fostering income is taxable. Always use the current HMRC helpsheet or a qualified adviser when filing your return.

Who can you foster with in Kent?

1) The local authority (Kent County Council)

Fostering directly with Kent County Council means you’re part of the council’s own service. You’ll be allocated a supervising social worker, get access to training and support groups, and be considered for placements the council needs to make locally. Kent promotes its experience (40+ years) and a broad support offer through its website.

2) Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)

IFAs like Silver Lining Fostering Agency are independent, Ofsted-regulated services that work with councils (including Kent) to provide placements. We mirror the allowance + fee model and often offer additional wrap-around support—such as enhanced training, therapeutic input, and out-of-hours help—so that complex placements can succeed and children can stay closer to their schools and communities. (All agencies must meet or exceed the national minimum allowance, but total packages vary by child needs and your experience.)

Which should you choose? Both routes can be excellent. It often comes down to fit: support style, training culture, the kinds of placements you feel called to provide, and the team you’ll work with day to day. We encourage you to speak with Kent’s council team and with us to compare support, development pathways, and total package transparently.

How to apply to foster in Kent (step-by-step)

The process is broadly similar whether you foster with the local authority or with an agency like Silver Lining Fostering Agency.

Step 1: Enquiry and discovery call

• You contact us (or the council) to discuss your situation: home, work pattern, support network, experience with children, and the types of fostering you’re interested in (short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent & child, siblings, etc.).
• We answer key questions—spare room expectations, pets, income and how the allowance works, and time commitment. (Common national guidance about costs and allowances is on GOV.UK; we’ll give you the Kent-specific detail.)

Step 2: Home visit and pre-assessment checks

• A practitioner visits your home to talk through the role in more detail and check space and safety (e.g., safe storage for medication/cleaning products, garden/pond risks, pet risk assessment).
• If both sides are happy to proceed, we’ll invite you onto pre-approval training (often called Skills to Foster) and start formal checks.

Step 3: Form F assessment (full assessment)

• The Form F is a structured assessment of your background, parenting experience, resilience, relationships, health, and the environment you can offer a child.
• Checks include DBS, medical, references, safeguarding history, and a health & safety review of your home.
• You’ll build a Safer Caring plan and discuss the age ranges/needs you can best meet.
• The assessor writes a report recommending approval terms (e.g., number of children, age range, placement types).

Step 4: Panel and decision

• You and your assessor attend a fostering panel (a multi-disciplinary group) that considers your report and asks questions.
• A senior decision-maker then confirms the outcome. If approved, you’ll be open to matching.

Step 5: Matching and first placement

• We’ll call you with referrals that match your approval terms. You choose whether to express interest or decline—there is no pressure to say yes; what matters is the right match.
• Before a placement, we’ll review support, education arrangements, contact with birth family, transport, and allowances/fees so you know exactly what’s in place from day one.

Tip: Ask for a written placement plan that specifies contact schedules, transport expectations, health needs, and how any extras are funded. Clear plans reduce stress and help placements last.

Types of fostering in demand in Kent

• Short-term: caring while plans are assessed (weeks to months).
• Long-term: offering stability where returning home isn’t possible.
• Emergency: same-day or overnight placements.
• Respite/short breaks: planned support for children and other carers.
• Parent & child: a specialist arrangement where you support a parent and their baby together; expectation, observation and high-quality recording are key—and payments recognise the intensity. Kent publishes guidance on how these are structured.

Silver Lining Fostering Agency actively recruits for siblings, teenagers, and parent & child carers across Kent. If you have room, resilience and a calm, reflective approach, we’d love to talk.

What makes a strong application?

• A spare bedroom for each foster child (siblings of similar age/sex sometimes share by agreement).
• Time and flexibility for school runs, contact with birth family, meetings and training.
• A stable, safe home (owner or tenant; renters can foster with landlord consent).
• A support network—friends or family who can help with emergencies or regular respite.
• Openness to learning—trauma-informed approaches (like PACE), de-escalation skills, and reflective recording.

If you’re unsure about any of the above, call us—we’ll be honest about what’s essential and what we can help you put in place pre-approval.

Training, support and supervision

Whether you foster with Kent County Council or with Silver Lining Fostering Agency, you should expect:

• Pre-approval training (Skills to Foster) and a tailored post-approval development plan.
• Regular supervision with your supervising social worker and 24/7 out-of-hours support.
• Access to therapeutic advice, peer support groups, and courses on attachment, neurodiversity, safer internet use, and recording for court.
• Support to work with the Virtual School on education plans and Pupil Premium Plus spending (for school-age children).

Kent advertises robust training and long experience in the county service; IFAs like ours complement this with small-team responsiveness and added specialist input where needed.

Your money questions—clear and simple

Is the allowance my pay?
Think of the allowance as the child’s budget (food, clothing, school, utilities, hobbies). Your carer fee/skill payment recognises your time and professional commitment; it varies by provider, placement type and your experience. Combined, these make up your weekly package. Kent’s policy confirms this “allowance + reward” structure.

Do I pay tax?
Most carers fall within Qualifying Care Relief thresholds, so many pay no income tax on fostering income. Use HMRC Helpsheet HS236 when you submit your return and keep good records of placements and weeks.

How do I compare offers?
Ask every provider (including us) for a written breakdown showing:

1. the child’s allowance,
2. the carer fee,
3. what’s covered (mileage, birthdays/holidays, clothing, equipment), and
4. how training and support are delivered.
   England’s NMA is the floor; packages often sit above it depending on need and skills.

How Silver Lining Fostering Agency supports you in Kent

• Fast, friendly onboarding: immediate call-back, realistic timeline, and help preparing your home and paperwork.
• Transparent package: we’ll set out allowance, fee and extras in writing for each placement.
• Therapeutic focus: practical training in trauma-informed care, de-escalation, and reflective recording so you feel confident from day one.
• Wrap-around education support: we liaise with schools and the Virtual School so routines settle quickly.
• 24/7 support & peer networks: talk to real carers in Kent; we arrange buddying and local groups.
• Career development: advanced pathways (e.g., parent & child, therapeutic) with enhanced fees where appropriate.

Getting started today: your next steps

1. Book a 20-minute discovery call. We’ll explore your situation and answer anything on allowances, time commitments, and the assessment.
2. Home visit & pre-approval training. We’ll check the essentials and get your training date in the diary.
3. Form F & panel. We’ll guide you every step of the way and keep momentum so you’re not left waiting.
4. Matching. We’ll discuss referrals openly—there’s never pressure to accept; the right match matters most.

Silver Lining Fostering Agency works across Kent—Maidstone, Medway, Canterbury, Ashford, Dartford, Gravesham, Tonbridge & Malling, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Thanet, Swale, Folkestone & Hythe and Dover—so wherever you’re based, we can support you to foster locally.

Useful references and why they matter

• National Minimum Allowances (England, 2025/26) – baseline weekly rates by age and region, including South East (Kent). Use this to benchmark any offer.
• Kent payments & policy – confirms the allowance + reward structure and specialist arrangements (e.g., parent & child). Helpful when budgeting.
• Local Authority Fostering South East hub – explains the regional “single front door” for enquiries across 17 councils; useful if you want to compare LA routes with agency routes.
• HMRC HS236 (QCR) – keeps your tax position accurate for the current year.
• National demand news – context for why enquiries are urgently needed in 2025.

Final word

Fostering changes lives—yours included. Kent needs carers who can offer calm, consistent homes for children and young people, from babies to teens and sibling groups. If you’ve got a spare room, a steady routine and the heart to help, Silver Lining Fostering Agency will stand with you—from first questions to first day, and for as long as you foster.

Ready to talk? Reach out to Silver Lining Fostering Agency for a friendly, no-pressure chat about allowances, support, and the best route for you in Kent. We’ll help you compare options, prepare for assessment, and find the match that makes sense for your family and for the child who needs you.