Fostering in Kent (County-wide): Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about becoming a foster carer in Kent? This guide pulls together the latest allowance figures, local routes into fostering, and practical steps to apply—so you can move from “just looking” to “ready to foster” with confidence.

Kent fostering allowances in 2025/26: what you can expect

Every April, the national minimum fostering allowance (NMA) is updated across England. For the tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the weekly minimums are:

• South East (Kent):
  0–2: £189 | 3–4: £196 | 5–10: £216 | 11–15: £247 | 16–17: £288.
  (For comparison: London is higher; Rest of England is lower.) These are the baseline maintenance payments intended to cover a child’s day-to-day costs. Local authorities and agencies can add fee/skill payments on top.

Kent County Council’s in-house service (Kent Fostering) explains the local structure clearly: carers receive a maintenance payment (the child’s living costs) plus a reward/fee recognizing your skills and time. Specialist schemes pay more—for example parent-and-child (P&C) arrangements can be significantly higher, with the KCC site illustrating totals that can exceed £1,100 per week for specific P&C placements. Exact figures vary by scheme and review cycle, so check current KCC schedules when you apply.

The Government confirmed a national uplift for 2025/26, so if you’re comparing older articles, be sure you’re looking at current-year rates.

What else might be covered?

Beyond weekly allowances/fees, you may be able to claim or receive support toward mileage (school runs/contact), birthdays and religious festivals, equipment (e.g., cots, stairgates), school uniforms or trips—the exact add-ons differ by scheme and placement plan. Your supervising social worker will confirm what’s reimbursable and what requires pre-approval under Kent’s policy framework. (Policy pages and the Kent Fostering handbook set out how placements and payments are planned.)

Who can foster in Kent? (Spare room, checks, and what councils look for)

Kent’s entry criteria are straightforward: you must be 18+, live in Kent or Medway, have a spare bedroom suitable for a child, and be willing to complete safeguarding checks (DBS). Being single, renting, or working doesn’t automatically exclude you—what matters is stability, availability and a strong support network.

Because Kent borders the Channel, the county regularly supports unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). If you have capacity for teenagers, are open to cross-cultural learning, or speak additional languages, you’ll be particularly valued. Training and wrap-around support are provided.

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

You can start with Kent Fostering directly or through the new Local Authority Fostering South East hub (a regional “single front door” for enquiries that routes you to your local council team). The path looks like this:

1. Initial enquiry – submit a short form or call the team (Kent Fostering: 03000 420 002, Mon–Fri, 9–5). You’ll have a short chat about your household, spare room, and motivation.
2. Information & initial visit – learn about types of fostering, expectations and support; a worker may visit your home to discuss next steps.
3. Stage 1 checks – DBS, references, medical, and basic training.
4. Stage 2 assessment (Form F) – a social worker builds your assessment, exploring your experience, resilience, and family dynamics. You’ll also complete ‘Skills to Foster’ training.
5. Panel & approval – your assessment is reviewed by an independent panel that recommends approval terms to the decision-maker. If approved, matching starts soon after.

Timeline: Kent aims to complete the process in around six months for new applicants, though complex checks can add time. If you’re already approved with another service, a transfer process is available.

Prefer a single regional entry point? Local Authority Fostering South East hosts info sessions and routes you to the right council team (including Kent) to progress your assessment.

Council vs independent fostering agencies (IFAs): which route suits you?

In Kent you can foster with Kent County Council (the local authority service) or with an independent fostering agency (IFA). Both recruit, train and supervise carers, but there are differences:

• Local authority (Kent Fostering): you’re part of the council’s own placement pool, often first in line for local referrals, with close links to Virtual School, health and care teams. Kent’s children’s services have been recognised by Ofsted—useful context when considering in-house support culture.
• IFAs: independent or charity providers that contract with councils. Some specialise (e.g., therapeutic, disability, or parent-and-child). Fees can differ and support packages may be tailored to particular needs.

Whichever route you’re considering, check the current Ofsted report and ask about: placement demand in your area/age range, out-of-hours support, respite, training pathways, and fees/allowances by placement type. You can search inspection reports on the official portal by postcode or provider name.

Types of fostering that are in demand across Kent

• Short-term – care during assessments or court proceedings (weeks to months).
• Long-term – matched permanency into adulthood.
• Emergency – same-day or overnight placements.
• Respite/short breaks – planned support to another foster family.
• Parent-and-child (P&C) – you support a parent and their baby while professionals assess parenting capacity. Higher skills and fees.
• UASC (teen focus) – young people arriving in Kent may need stable, culturally sensitive homes; training and interpreters help you succeed.

Your supervising social worker will help you choose the types that suit your home, routines, and experience.

Training, supervision and how support works

New carers complete ‘Skills to Foster’ and a curated induction programme; ongoing CPD covers safer caring, attachment/trauma, education and health. Kent sets out clear placement planning expectations (e.g., a Placement Agreement Meeting within five days of a child arriving, with roles, routines and contact plans agreed and recorded). Expect regular supervision visits, 24/7 on-call support, and access to local peer groups.

Kent also publishes its Statement of Purpose, a helpful overview of how the fostering service is structured, assessed and supported—including mainstream and kinship strands introduced in 2024. It’s worth reading to understand how decisions are made and who does what.

The finances beyond allowances: fees, tax relief and records

Alongside allowances and any skill fees, foster carers benefit from HMRC’s Qualifying Care Relief (QCR). In simple terms, QCR gives you a tax-free threshold made up of a fixed amount per household plus a weekly amount for each child in placement; many carers find this covers all their fostering income for the year. You still complete Self Assessment, but the calculation is streamlined under QCR. (See the official helpsheet for the tax year.)

Good habits: keep a simple mileage log, note contact runs and appointments, store school/health receipts where relevant, and maintain your daily records—these are crucial for both care planning and any future court reporting. Kent’s handbook shows what’s expected around recording and placement planning.

How to get started this week

• Book an info call with Kent Fostering (or send the enquiry form) to talk through your household, spare room and timescales.
• Attend a hub session with Local Authority Fostering South East if you want an overview of all council options in the region first.
• Walk your home with a “safer caring” lens: bedroom layout, pets/risk areas, car seats and storage. Ask what can be claimed or supplied under Kent’s schemes.
• Choose your focus (e.g., under-5s, teens, siblings, UASC, P&C) so the team can match you to the right training and assessment pathway.

FAQs (Kent-specific quick answers)

How much do foster carers get paid in Kent?
At minimum, you’ll receive at least the South East national maintenance rate by the child’s age band (see table above). Kent also pays reward/fee elements and specialist rates for schemes like P&C, so actual weekly totals can be higher.

How long does approval take?
Kent aims for around six months from enquiry to panel, depending on checks and availability for training/home visits.

Do I need to live in Kent?
Yes—Kent Fostering asks that carers live in Kent or Medway, have a spare bedroom, and are willing to complete DBS and other checks.

Is there demand in Kent right now?
Yes. Kent runs regular campaigns for new carers, and the county’s unique position means ongoing need—especially for teens and UASC.

Bottom line

If you have a spare room and the heart for it, Kent offers a clear route into fostering, nationally aligned allowances (with local enhancements), structured training, and strong professional support. Start with a conversation—either through Kent Fostering directly or via the Local Authority Fostering South East hub—and you could be welcoming your first placement in the months ahead.