Fostering in Croydon: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about becoming a foster carer in Croydon? You’re in the right place. This guide brings together the latest allowance figures for 2025/26, how Croydon Council pays and supports its carers, which local agencies operate in the area, and a clear step-by-step on how to apply (and what to expect at each stage). Our goal is to answer the big questions people search for—pay, process, training, checks—so you can make an informed start.

Fostering allowances in Croydon (2025/26)

In England, foster carers receive a weekly maintenance allowance to cover a child’s day-to-day costs (food, clothing, transport, activities). The national minimum fostering allowance is set by the Department for Education and is updated each April. For the tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the DfE shows different minimums for London, South East, and the Rest of England. Because Croydon is a London borough, the London band applies. The minimums are: £198 (age 0–2), £201 (3–4), £225 (5–10), £257 (11–15), £299 (16–17) per child, per week. These are the minimum amounts; many councils and IFAs pay more via additional “fees”.

How Croydon Council pays

Croydon’s fostering payment is typically split into two parts:

1. the allowance (to be spent on the child) and
2. a fee (a reward payment for the carer’s time and skill).

Croydon also provides additional payments for birthdays and major holidays. Public headlines from the council’s foster recruitment site note a financial package “up to £604 per week per child” depending on the child’s age, needs and the carer’s experience/skill level. Exact figures are confirmed with you during the assessment/matching process.

Tip: Because Croydon’s fees can vary by placement type (e.g., therapeutic, emergency, or parent & child), ask the recruitment team to walk you through age-banded examples that combine the weekly allowance plus fee, so you can see a realistic total for your household.

Local fostering options: Council vs independent agencies

Prospective carers in Croydon usually choose between:

1) Fostering with Croydon Council

• You’ll care for Croydon children and work directly with the borough’s fostering service.
• Benefits include local training and support, access to the borough’s placement team, and community events. Croydon actively recruits, and its official pages outline payments, training and how to enquire online.

2) Fostering with an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)

• IFAs are regulated organisations that work with local authorities to provide placements, often where additional support or specialist care is needed.
• Many IFAs cover Croydon and wider South London, offering full training (including the “Skills to Foster” course) and ongoing supervision. Always compare support and fee packages, and check Ofsted grades.

Which is “better”? There’s no universal answer. Councils may be able to match you quickly with local children, while IFAs may offer specialist training and sometimes higher fee structures for complex placements. Speak to both, ask identical questions, and compare like-for-like (allowance + fee + extras).

What types of fostering are needed in Croydon?

Croydon, like most London boroughs, seeks carers across a range of placement types: short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, and therapeutic. There’s also ongoing demand for carers for teenagers, sibling groups, and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), reflecting London’s placement pressures. Local materials emphasise full support, training and on-call help so you’re not alone with complex scenarios.

Eligibility and what you’ll need

Fostering welcomes people from all backgrounds. The essentials include:

• A spare bedroom for each foster child (exceptions are rare and risk-assessed).
• A safe, stable home in or near Croydon.
• Time, energy and resilience to support a child’s routines, education, contact with birth family and appointments.
• Right to live and work in the UK and willingness to undergo checks (DBS, references, health).
• Team mindset—you’ll work with social workers, schools, and health services.

IFAs and councils alike confirm that you can be single or partnered, renting or owning, and from any religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Your capacity to provide safe, nurturing care is what matters most.

How to apply to foster in Croydon: step-by-step

Below is the typical journey if you apply through Croydon Council; independent agencies follow a very similar structure.

1) Enquiry and initial call

Start by submitting an online enquiry or calling the recruitment team. You’ll have an information chat about your household, work hours, spare room, children in the home, pets and motivations. Croydon’s official pages signpost an online form and contact details.

2) Information session

You’ll attend an online or in-person session about the role, support, pay, and routes (short-term, long-term, respite, therapeutic). Bring questions about allowances, fees, mileage and training, plus how contact with birth family works.

3) Home visit / initial assessment

A worker visits your home to discuss your experience, support network, daily routines and “safer caring” approach. You’ll talk about bedroom layout, transport for school/contact, and how you’d manage risks (internet safety, visitors, pets). This visit feeds into a recommendation on whether to proceed.

4) Formal checks and references

Expect an enhanced DBS, medical, personal and employment references, and a home health & safety review. Every adult in the household, and regular visitors providing care, will be considered during safeguarding checks.

5) Training: “Skills to Foster”

This introductory course helps you understand trauma, attachment, behaviour support, boundaries, keeping records, and working as part of a professional team around the child. It’s commonly offered before panel and may be delivered online, evenings or weekends to accommodate work.

6) Form F assessment (home study)

A qualified assessor works with you over several visits to compile your Form F—a detailed profile of your background, experience, parenting style, support network, and what placements would fit well (age range, number of children, complexity). You’ll help draft a safer caring policy specific to your household.

7) Fostering panel and decision

Your assessment report and checks go to an independent Fostering Panel, which makes a recommendation. The Agency Decision Maker (ADM) then issues the formal decision. If approved, you’ll receive your terms of approval (e.g., ages/number of children) and next steps for matching.

8) Matching and your first placement

You’ll begin receiving referrals—short profiles of children needing a home. Ask about education, health, behaviour, contact, history, and support. Saying “no” to a match that isn’t right is okay; good matching protects everyone.

Support, training and supervision

Croydon highlights 24/7 support, regular supervising social worker (SSW) visits, peer networks and buddying/mentoring. IFAs echo a similar support offer, including enhanced training pathways for therapeutic care. Look for:

• Frequency of supervision visits and 24/7 helpline access
• Access to therapeutic advice or clinical consultation
• Mileage and contact support (including escorts for supervised contact)
• Respite options and local support groups

Croydon and partner materials emphasise structured training and development so you can build confidence—especially useful for those interested in teens, siblings, or UASC.

Taxes and benefits: what changes when you foster?

Fostering has a unique tax regime called Qualifying Care Relief. In practice, many carers pay little or no income tax on fostering income, depending on circumstances. You’ll still file a self-assessment and keep basic records of placements and dates. For benefits such as Universal Credit, fostering income is treated differently than standard earnings—speak to a benefits adviser or the fostering team for tailored guidance. For national rules and example thresholds, see the official GOV.UK guidance.

Frequently asked questions (Croydon-specific)

How long does approval take?
Most people take 4–6 months from enquiry to panel, depending on checks, availability for training and how quickly references come back. Your assessor will agree a timetable with you. (Timelines vary; ask Croydon for current averages.)

Do I need to own my home?
No. You can rent or own—what matters is that your home is safe and that you have a spare bedroom. Landlord consent may be needed if you rent.

Can I keep working?
Yes, many foster carers work. Consider school hours, contact schedules and meetings. If you work shifts, talk this through with the team so they understand your availability and support network.

What about training after approval?
Expect a clear CPD plan with mandatory courses (safeguarding, first aid) and optional specialist modules (e.g., therapeutic parenting, PACE). IFAs and the council both offer ongoing training.

What do “up to £604/week” headlines mean?
This is usually an age/needs-dependent maximum that combines allowance + fee. Your actual weekly total depends on the child’s age and needs, and your experience/role. Always ask for a written breakdown and examples.

How to start your application today

• With Croydon Council: Visit the council’s fostering pages to read about payments, support and to enquire online. You can also look for local information sessions and recruitment events.
• With an IFA: Shortlist 2–3 Ofsted-inspected agencies that cover Croydon. Compare fees + allowances, support, respite, training, and out-of-hours help. Ask about their match success with siblings, teens or therapeutic placements if those interest you.

Pro tip for quicker approval:
Have your ID documents, GP details, referee list, and landlord consent (if renting) ready. Clear weekends for Skills to Foster and early Form F meetings. Keeping momentum on checks can shave weeks off your timeline.

Final thoughts

Croydon urgently needs a wider pool of carers able to offer safe, stable homes—particularly for teens, sibling groups and UASC. The 2025/26 London-band minimum allowances offer a clear baseline, while Croydon’s own package can reach up to £604 a week per child depending on age and needs. Partner that with strong training and 24/7 support, and you have the ingredients to make a real difference—locally.

When you’re ready, contact Foster for Croydon for an initial chat, book an information session, and explore whether the council route or an IFA fits best. Your spare room could change a young person’s life this year.