Fostering
Fostering in Greenwich: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply
If you live in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and you’re thinking about fostering, you’re in the right place. This guide covers what foster carers are paid in London (2025/26), the support you’ll get from Greenwich Council and local agencies, and a clear, step-by-step application process from enquiry to approval—plus practical tips, FAQs, and who to contact.
Why choose Greenwich if you want to foster?
Greenwich runs an established local authority fostering service with 24/7 support, structured training and mentoring, membership of national support bodies, and regular supervision—exactly the pillars new carers need to feel confident and backed up. The council highlights round-the-clock support, generous allowances, ongoing training, regular contact with a supervising social worker, support groups and counselling, and links with The Fostering Network and the Greenwich Foster Carers Association.
Greenwich is also innovating to widen the types of foster care available. In April 2025, the council partnered with Now Foster to pilot “Weekenders”—a model where children in care spend regular weekends with a foster family to build stable relationships and try new activities. It’s a flexible route for households who can offer weekends first while exploring longer-term approval.
On the quality side, Ofsted’s 2024 inspection of Greenwich children’s services noted leaders’ focus on improvement and a range of supports for families on the edge of care, with foster carers playing a role in early help. That’s a good indicator that the fostering service sits within a broader, joined-up offer for children locally.
Allowances in Greenwich (2025/26): what you’ll be paid
In England, the Department for Education (DfE) sets a national minimum fostering allowance each April. London has higher minimums than the rest of England. For 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the weekly London rates are:
- Age 0–2: £198
- Age 3–4: £201
- Age 5–10: £225
- Age 11–15: £257
- Age 16–17: £299
These are the minimum amounts designed to cover the cost of caring for a child. Local authorities and independent fostering agencies (IFAs) can (and often do) pay top-ups/fees on top of the minimum, depending on your skills, experience, and the needs of the child.
Greenwich confirms carers receive a weekly payment that includes both costs and a fee, with individual rates varying by your experience and the child’s age/needs. As with many London authorities, enhanced schemes may apply for specialist roles (e.g., parent & child, complex needs), and you’ll also be able to claim mileage and certain extras (e.g., birthdays, holidays) through local policies.
Tip: When you speak to the recruitment team, ask for the current fee+allowance bands and any enhanced/therapeutic schemes—these vary between LAs and IFAs in London and are worth comparing.
Foster carer tax: Qualifying Care Relief (QCR) in a nutshell
Most foster carers pay little or no tax on fostering income because of Qualifying Care Relief (QCR), which provides a household allowance plus a weekly amount per child. HMRC updates the helpsheet annually; check the current thresholds before you file. If your fostering income is below your QCR “qualifying amount”, your taxable profit from fostering is treated as £0. You still need to register as self-employed and complete Self Assessment.
Where to learn more: HMRC’s HS236 helpsheet explains the relief clearly, and national charities provide plain-English guides for carers.
Local authority vs independent fostering agency (IFA): which route?
You can foster through:
- Royal Borough of Greenwich (the local authority), or
- An independent fostering agency (IFA) that places children from multiple councils.
Local authority benefits include being directly linked to Greenwich’s children’s services, strong ties to local schools and health, and access to borough-wide peer support (e.g., Mockingbird constellations—see below). IFAs sometimes offer higher fees for specific needs or out-of-hours placements and additional training packages. Either way, ensure you compare support, training, respite, and the kinds of placements you’re likely to receive.
Who can foster in Greenwich?
Fostering is open to single people, couples, homeowners and renters, with or without children. You’ll need a spare bedroom, time and resilience, and to pass standard checks (DBS, medical, references, home assessment). Greenwich lists an inclusive eligibility approach and invites anyone who feels they can offer a child a safe, stable home to get in touch.
How to apply in Greenwich (step-by-step)
1) Make an enquiry and attend an information session
Start by contacting the Greenwich Fostering Recruitment team (details below). You’ll usually be invited to a call or information event to discuss fostering types, pay, support, and expectations.
2) Initial home visit
A social worker visits your home to discuss your circumstances, support network, motivation, and the practicalities of caring for a child. If both sides wish to proceed, you’ll receive an application form, and the formal assessment begins.
3) Assessment (Form F) and preparation training
Greenwich runs preparation groups (often “Skills to Foster”) during assessment. The council indicates the full assessment can take up to around five months from application to panel (a typical England timeline). During this time, checks include DBS, medicals, references, employment history, and local authority checks for areas you’ve lived in.
4) Panel and approval
Your assessor compiles your Form F report for an independent fostering panel. You’ll attend (in person or online) to discuss your strengths and the ages/needs you’re approved for. If panel recommends approval and the decision-maker agrees, you’re officially a foster carer for Greenwich.
5) Matching and first placement
Your supervising social worker and the placements team start matching you with a child/ren whose needs fit your approval. You’ll get referral information to read and a chance to ask questions before you say yes—always take time to check that the match is right for your household.
The support package in Greenwich
Supervision and 24/7 advice: You’ll be allocated a supervising social worker and have access to out-of-hours support for urgent issues.
Training and CPD: Expect core training (safeguarding, first aid, safer caring) plus specialist modules—particularly if you’re interested in therapeutic care, parent & child, UASC (unaccompanied asylum-seeking children), or complex needs.
Peer support—Mockingbird: Greenwich is rolling out the Mockingbird Family Model, which links foster families into “constellations” around a hub home for practical and emotional support, sleepovers/respite, and social activities. There’s strong evidence that Mockingbird improves placement stability and carer retention.
Specialist initiatives—Weekenders: If you can’t yet offer full-time care, Greenwich’s Weekenders programme with Now Foster is a new pathway to get involved and build experience.
Types of fostering you can offer
- Short-term: Care while longer-term plans are made (weeks to months).
- Long-term: A stable home through to adulthood.
- Emergency: Same-day or overnight placements.
- Respite/short breaks: Support to full-time carers or families.
- Parent & child: Helping a parent learn to care for their baby safely (specialist).
- Weekenders (pilot): Regular weekend fostering to build relationships and wraparound support.
Ask the team which types are most in demand locally (often teenagers, siblings, and children with additional needs), and what enhanced payments apply.
Education, health and everyday life
Greenwich foster carers work closely with social workers, schools (including the Virtual School), health professionals, and birth family. Expect help with school admissions, PEP meetings, EHCP reviews, health assessments and immunisations, and support managing family time (contact) plans. The council’s wider children’s services framework—and Ofsted’s recent commentary—suggest strong multi-agency working, which matters day-to-day for carers.
Local agencies serving Greenwich
Alongside the local authority, several IFAs recruit in and around Greenwich and across London. They may advertise higher fee+allowance packages for certain placements (for example, some London IFAs promote “from £425/week” as a starting point, rising with needs and skills). Always compare support, training, respite, and placement types, not just headline pay.
Frequently asked questions (Greenwich focus)
How much will I be paid in Greenwich?
You’ll receive at least the London national minimum (see figures above), plus any local fee/top-ups based on skills and placement needs. Ask Greenwich for their 2025/26 fee bands and what’s included (mileage, birthdays, holidays).
How long does approval take?
Greenwich indicates the assessment can take up to about five months from a completed application to panel, in line with normal England timescales.
Do I need a spare room? Can I rent?
Yes, a spare bedroom is expected for each child (with specific exceptions for siblings or very young children set by the service). You can foster if you rent—you’ll just need landlord consent and a safe, stable tenancy. (Discuss your situation at the initial visit.)
What support will I get after approval?
A supervising social worker, 24/7 advice line, training/CPD, support groups and counselling, and access to Mockingbird peer support as it expands locally.
How does tax work for foster carers?
Most carers use Qualifying Care Relief (QCR). Read HMRC’s HS236 for the latest thresholds and examples and remember to register as self-employed even if you owe no tax on fostering income.
Step-by-step checklist before you call
- Talk it through at home—time, routines, support network.
- Check your spare room—is it suitable and safe?
- Gather references/IDs—you’ll need them during assessment.
- Think about placement types—short-term, long-term, teens, siblings, parent & child, Weekenders.
- List practical questions—allowance bands, respite, training, transport/mileage, contact arrangements.
Prefer to read more first? See Greenwich’s pages on becoming a foster carer, support and financial help, getting started, and the Mockingbird Family Model.
Final word
Fostering in Greenwich means becoming part of a well-supported local community with strong training, 24/7 advice, and growing peer networks (Mockingbird)—with payment levels aligned to London’s higher national minimum and local enhancements. Whether you’re ready for full-time fostering, keen to support siblings or teens, or want a flexible start via Weekenders, the borough has clear routes to get you involved. Make the enquiry, book your initial visit, and take it one step at a time—the team will guide you through assessment, panel, and your first match so you can offer a child a safe, stable, and nurturing home in Greenwich.