Fostering in Croydon: How to Apply and Get Matched

Thinking about fostering where you live? Croydon needs more carers of all backgrounds—single, partnered, renting or owning—who can offer safety, structure and warmth to children and young people. This guide walks you through the application steps with Croydon Council, what support and pay look like locally, how matching works in practice, and when an independent fostering agency (IFA) route might make sense.

Why Croydon—and who can foster?

Croydon runs a dedicated recruitment service (“Foster for Croydon”) with local training, a supervising social worker, and practical, nearby support. Fostering directly with your council means you’ll be prioritised for Croydon children, cutting down on long travel for school runs, contact, and appointments.

Eligibility is broad. You can be single or in a couple, employed or self-employed, renting or owning; what matters is your stability, space, and the ability to meet a child’s needs. If you’re unsure about the spare room rule or your working hours, raise it at the enquiry call—Croydon’s team will talk through realistic options (e.g., respite, short-term, teens).

How to apply with Croydon: step-by-step

1) Make an enquiry (first conversation)

Start via the Foster for Croydon website or call the team. You’ll have an informal chat about your home, family, work pattern, support network, and the types of fostering that interest you (short-term, long-term, parent & child, teenagers, UASC, disability). If it still feels right, you’ll move to a home visit.

2) Home visit (pre-assessment)

A social worker visits to look at space and safety, discuss your experience with children, and answer practical questions (transport for school/contact, bedtime routines, boundaries, digital safety). This helps decide whether to proceed to Stage 1 checks.

3) Stage 1 checks and core training

You’ll complete DBS, references, health checks and basic training (e.g., first aid, safer caring, online safety). Croydon emphasises local training options and encourages further courses once approved.

4) Stage 2 (Form F assessment)

Over several sessions, an assessing social worker builds your Form F—your fostering profile—covering your background, parenting style, support network, home environment and matching preferences. You’ll co-produce a safer caring approach (house rules, visitors, bedrooms/bathrooms, transport, pets) and consider which ages/needs you’re ready for.

5) Fostering panel and decision

Your assessment goes to panel (a multi-disciplinary group including experienced carers and professionals) which makes a recommendation to the agency decision maker. If approved, you’re open to matching—often with a link worker/supervising social worker guiding the first placements.

Data and privacy: Croydon publishes a dedicated privacy notice for fostering recruitment/assessment (how your data is stored and for how long), which you can read before you apply.

What Croydon pays: allowances, fees and extras

Croydon sets out a weekly child allowance (to cover the child’s day-to-day costs) plus a skills fee for the carer. Published figures for the standard scheme show:

• 0–4: £195 allowance + £210 skills fee = £405 total
• 5–10: £217 allowance + £210 = £427 total
• 11–15: £248 allowance + £210 = £458 total
• 16–19: £289 allowance + £210 = £499 total

Enhanced packages can uplift the skills fee (e.g., +50%) where a child needs extra support; disabled children may have bespoke packages within their care plan.

Croydon’s latest Fostering Service Annual Report also highlights extras commonly asked about—birthday, festival and holiday allowances, alongside training and out-of-hours support—useful when you’re budgeting a first year of fostering.

Remember: the allowance is for the child’s costs; the fee recognises your time and skills. Some weeks will include mileage, contact travel, equipment or exceptional payments, depending on the placement. Ask your supervising social worker how to claim and record.

Training and support you can expect

Before approval you’ll complete core training; after approval, Croydon encourages ongoing CPD (e.g., therapeutic parenting, trauma/attachment, internet safety). You’ll have a dedicated supervising social worker, access to local support, and an out-of-hours duty line. Building skills is key to placement stability and helps when you consider more complex matches later on.

How matching works in Croydon

Reading a referral

Once approved, your supervising social worker will send you anonymised referrals for children who may fit your profile. You’ll look at age, school, health, contact schedule, transport, behaviours/risks, and what support will be in place. Be honest: if a match feels too stretched (e.g., travel time, bedroom layout, pet risks), it’s better to decline than accept a placement that won’t be sustainable.

Questions to ask before you say “yes”

• What are the education and contact arrangements (days/times, who transports)?
• Any health or SEN plans (EHCP, therapies, CAMHS waiting status)?
• Safety plan: known triggers, online rules, curfews, police involvement, return-home interview expectations if missing episodes occur.
• Support: respite options, enhanced fee, additional training.

Local first, then wider

As a Croydon carer, you’ll usually be considered for Croydon children first, keeping school and family links steady. When there’s no local in-house match, the council may look to neighbouring boroughs or IFAs. (This is one reason Croydon—and London councils generally—continue to recruit: in-house carers help keep journeys and costs down while maintaining stability for children.)

Council or IFA—how should you choose?

Croydon openly explains the pros of fostering for your local authority: local support/training, direct impact on Croydon children, and typically better proximity for school/contact. At the same time, London has a number of IFAs active in and around Croydon (for example, ISP, FCA/NFA, TACT, Sunbeam, and others) advertising packages and specialist support. If you’re comparing, ask each provider for a written breakdown (allowance vs fee vs add-ons), training commitment, respite, and support with complex needs.

Note: Media discussion around IFA costs and market structure is ongoing; keep your focus on support, stability and transparency—what matters is the right match and the right wrap-around help for you and the child.

Timeline: how long does it take?

A typical journey—from enquiry to panel—can take several months, depending on how quickly checks complete and diaries align for assessment visits and training. If you’re flexible about age and needs (e.g., teens, sibling groups, parent & child), you may hear about potential matches soon after approval; if you’re very specific (e.g., only 0–4s), expect to wait longer. Croydon’s team talks through realistic timelines at enquiry and home visit.

Paperwork that helps your approval (and matching)

Build a simple “carer portfolio”

• Support network: names/roles of friends or family who can help.
• Home safety: pet details, gardens/ponds, household vehicles, smoke/CO alarms.
• Transport: car seats, school run options, backup drivers, insurer confirmation.
• Daily living: sample routines, bedroom plan, screen time rules, mealtime approach.
• Training mindset: what you’ve read/watched (trauma, attachment, PACE), and any prior caring/education roles.

This not only speeds assessment but also gives matching social workers confidence that you’ve thought through the practicalities.

After approval: your first months as a Croydon carer

• Induction: agree supervision frequency with your SSW; get your handbook and claim forms.
• Recording: start daily logs; clarify what goes in placement files and what’s shared with school/health.
• School & contact: establish timetables, transport, backup plans, and escalation routes.
• Expenses: know what’s claimable (mileage, equipment), and how to evidence purchases.
• Wellbeing: join local foster carer groups; ask about respite early; block out rest time.

Croydon’s annual report also mentions appreciation events and a hub-style support model developing locally—use these communities to share tips and avoid burnout.

Frequently asked questions (Croydon-specific)

How much will I be paid per week?

Croydon’s published standard scheme shows £405–£499 per week depending on age (child allowance plus a £210 skills fee). Enhanced packages can uplift the fee by 50% for higher-need placements; bespoke packages apply for some disabled children.

What training do I get?

Pre-approval core training (including first aid and online safety) and a broad post-approval menu of courses. You’ll also have a supervising social worker and out-of-hours support.

Can I transfer from an IFA or another council?

Yes—Croydon invites enquiries from approved carers who wish to transfer. Ask about porting your approval, references, and notice periods.

Will I only care for Croydon children?

Typically, Croydon tries to match Croydon children to Croydon carers first; if there’s no suitable in-house match, referrals may come from neighbouring areas or through IFAs.

How to get started today

1. Make your enquiry with Foster for Croydon (see the council page for routes and the current contact number). Share your availability, preferred ages, and any experience with additional needs.
2. Book the home visit and complete Stage 1 checks (DBS, medical, references), then core training.
3. Complete your Form F with your assessor; be specific about the support you’ll need to thrive.
4. Attend panel; once approved, discuss matching boundaries (age range, siblings, travel limits, pets, contact schedules).
5. Say yes safely: read referrals carefully, ask questions, and agree a clear support plan before placement begins.

Final word

Fostering in Croydon is local, supported and purposeful. If you want to make a direct difference to children in your borough—and do it with nearby training, supervision and practical help—start the conversation with Foster for Croydon. Ask for the written payment breakdown (allowance + skills fee + extras), the training plan for your first year, and what support looks like after 5pm. With the right guidance and a realistic matching plan, you’ll be set up for a stable first placement—and many more to come.