Thinking about fostering in Barnet? Good call. The borough has a strong track record for children’s services and a steady demand for new foster carers, especially for teenagers, sibling groups, and short-break (respite) care. Below you’ll find a clear breakdown of what you can earn, who to apply to, and how the Barnet assessment process works, plus practical tips to help you move from first enquiry to first placement with confidence.
Why choose Barnet for fostering?
Barnet’s fostering service sits within a children’s department that Ofsted has rated strongly in recent inspections, with inspectors highlighting the progress of children in care and improvements since the previous review. That context matters: it points to stable leadership, consistent social work practice, and better outcomes for children, which in turn usually means clearer support and supervision for carers.
Barnet fostering allowances and fees (what you can earn)
Barnet pays a combined maintenance allowance and skills-based fee per child, scaled by your training and experience. As of the latest local guidance, weekly payments typically range from about £372 to £578 per child, with additional extras for birthdays, holidays and other agreed costs. The exact figure depends on your approval (e.g., standard vs more complex placements) and your skills tier.
Alongside Barnet’s local rates, the government sets national minimum fostering allowances that increase each April. For 2025/26, the minimum weekly maintenance allowance (before any local top-ups or skill fees) is: London: £198–£299, South East: £189–£288, Rest of England: £170–£258, depending on the child’s age. These figures are baselines—Barnet’s package combines this maintenance element with its own fee structure, so what you receive will be higher than the minimum when you factor in skills payments and extras.
What the allowance is for
- Day-to-day costs: food, clothing, utilities, transport to school/contact, pocket money.
- One-off extras: birthdays, festivals, holidays, school trips (as agreed).
- Training/skills fee: recognizes your growing expertise and responsibilities.
Tip: Keep receipts and simple mileage logs. It makes claiming agreed expenses smoother and helps during annual reviews.
Local authority vs independent fostering agencies (IFAs) in Barnet
You can foster either with Barnet Council (the local authority, “LA”) or with an independent fostering agency that recruits in and around Barnet (for example, Compass Fostering and ISP both advertise for carers in the borough). LAs and IFAs work in partnership; councils place children with their in-house carers first and use IFAs when an in-house match isn’t available.
How to decide:
- Support & training: Both LA and reputable IFAs offer core training such as Skills to Foster, safeguarding, behaviour support, and therapeutic approaches.
- Payments: Packages vary. Some IFAs publish higher fee ranges for specific specialist schemes; LA schemes are often strongest for local contacts and education links.
- Matching: LA carers may receive referrals directly from Barnet; IFA carers may receive referrals from several councils across London, potentially increasing placement variety.
Market context: National reporting continues to scrutinise costs and outcomes across the sector; regardless of route, ask detailed questions about support, respite, out-of-hours cover, and supervision frequency so your choice is led by quality and fit, not just headline fees.
How to apply to foster in Barnet (step-by-step)
Barnet sets out a clear four-stage pathway. Expect the whole process (from enquiry to panel) to take several months, depending on checks, training dates, and your availability.
1) Enquiry and home visit
Start with a quick call or form. If there’s mutual interest, Barnet arranges a home visit to discuss your household, space, work patterns, and motivations. It’s an informal chance to ask questions and understand different fostering types. Contact: 020 8359 6274 or
2) Application and “Skills to Foster” training
You’ll complete the application and attend Barnet’s Skills to Foster course (typically 3 days). You’ll meet experienced carers and, often, a care-experienced young person. Training covers safeguarding, safer caring, contact, recording, and working with schools and health.
3) Assessment (Form F)
A qualified assessing social worker will complete a Form F assessment. Expect: DBS checks, medical, references, home and safety checks, and a series of structured interviews to build a picture of your strengths and support network. You’ll also draft a Safer Caring plan for your household.
4) Panel and approval
Your assessment report goes to a Fostering Panel of independent members and professionals. You’ll attend with your social worker; panel makes a recommendation and the Agency Decision Maker confirms the decision. After approval, you’ll be linked with a supervising social worker and start receiving referrals.
Who can foster in Barnet?
Barnet welcomes carers from all backgrounds, including single applicants, couples (married or not), homeowners and renters. You’ll need:
- A spare bedroom suitable for a child/young person (exceptions are rare and assessed).
- Time and flexibility for school runs, contact, meetings and training.
- Stability and a safe home (pet and garden risks are assessed, not an automatic barrier).
- Openness to checks (DBS, references, medical).
Barnet runs regular information events where you can meet the team and local carers.
Types of fostering you’ll find in Barnet
- Short-term (weeks to months) while plans are made.
- Long-term (permanence through to adulthood).
- Emergency (same-day, short notice).
- Respite/short breaks (supporting another carer or family).
- Parent & Child (assessing and supporting a parent with their baby).
- Specialist/therapeutic (for children with higher support needs).
Barnet provides an outline of each type and can advise which fits your skills and household.
Training, supervision and support
Expect an ongoing training plan that includes core safeguarding, first aid, behaviour support and trauma-informed practice. Many local authorities and agencies also reference therapeutic models (for example, PACE principles) and—where available—Mockingbird-style peer support constellations, which create hub-and-spoke carer networks to improve stability and reduce isolation. Ask Barnet whether any Mockingbird hubs are active or planned locally.
You’ll also get a supervising social worker, out-of-hours support, and access to support groups, reflective supervision, and respite options (as agreed in your plan). Good support is as important as fees—use the assessment stage to probe how quickly you can get help if a placement wobbles late at night or during school holidays.
Schools, health and contact in Barnet
- Education: Barnet works with the Virtual School to support attendance, homework and Personal Education Plans (PEPs). Where school moves are unavoidable, the team will help with admissions and transport discussions.
- Health: Children receive initial and review health assessments; register promptly with a GP and dentist.
- Contact: Plans vary (supervised, supported, or virtual). You’ll be briefed before you say “yes” to a referral, and paid mileage/expenses for agreed contact travel as per policy.
(Your supervising social worker will walk you through recording and confidentiality standards; Barnet provides guidance on what to log and how to store it securely.)
Barnet vs agencies nearby: comparing offers
If you’re weighing up Barnet against IFAs recruiting in the borough:
- Pay & extras: Get the full package in writing: weekly fee + maintenance + add-ons (birthdays, holidays, mileage, equipment). Barnet publishes an overall weekly range and confirms extras; IFAs often quote a range too. Compare like-for-like by child’s age, placement type, and your skill tier.
- Training depth: Ask who delivers therapeutic input, how many training days are required, and whether specialist pathways (e.g., parent-and-child) come with enhanced fees and wraparound support.
- Placement flow: LAs receive in-house referrals first, but IFAs work with multiple councils. Ask each provider about recent placement activity in Barnet for your preferred age group.
- Ethos and stability: Scan recent Ofsted/annual reports and ask about carer retention. National debates about costs continue; focus on supervision quality, availability of respite, and step-up support.
How long does it take to get approved?
Most applicants complete assessment and panel in several months. Your timeline depends on how quickly checks come back, your availability for training and home visits, and any adaptations needed (e.g., bedroom setup, safety tweaks for pets/garden). Barnet’s published pathway outlines the sequence clearly—home visit → application/training → assessment → panel/approval.
Speed tips:
- Gather ID, address history, referee details early.
- Pre-book GP medical once advised.
- Draft a simple Safer Caring plan with house rules on visitors, bathrooms, bedtime, internet use—your assessor will refine it with you.
Frequently asked “Can I…?” questions
- Can I foster if I rent in Barnet? Yes—landlord consent and a suitable spare room are key.
- Can I work while fostering? Many carers do, but availability for school runs, meetings and contact matters. Discuss your hours honestly at enquiry.
- Is there an upper age limit? No fixed upper limit—what matters is your health, energy and support network.
- What if I already foster elsewhere? You can transfer to Barnet. There’s a managed process to ensure continuity and references.
Ready to start? Your Barnet fostering checklist
- Make an enquiry with Barnet: 020 8359 6274 or fostering@barnet.gov.uk. Ask for upcoming information evenings.
- Visit your spare room with a critical eye: safe window locks, storage, desk space, neutral décor.
- Map your support network: who can help with school runs, emergencies, or respite handovers?
- Budget and paperwork: set up a simple expenses/mileage log and a folder for certificates, policies and handbooks.
- Compare options: if you’re talking to IFAs as well, create a side-by-side table for fees, extras, respite, supervision, out-of-hours response.
Key contacts and useful links
- Barnet Fostering (overview & enquiry): service page, information events, transfer guidance.
- Support & rewards (payments/extras): Barnet’s local payments overview.
- How to become a foster carer (process): Barnet’s step-by-step application.
- Can I foster? (eligibility & events): quick contact details and event sign-up.
- Types of foster care in Barnet: short-term, long-term, respite, emergency, parent-and-child.
- National minimum allowances 2025/26 (baseline figures): UK government rates for London/South East/Rest of England.
- Mockingbird (peer support model): background on the hub-home approach.
- Barnet children’s services performance: annual report notes and Ofsted context.
Final word
Fostering in Barnet is a chance to make a measurable difference—supported by a local team that sets out the process clearly and offers defined payments, training and practical extras. Start with an information evening and a home visit, get comfortable with the assessment steps, and compare support packages so your choice is a great fit for your household. When you’re ready, pick up the phone, send the enquiry email, and take step one.