Fostering in Kingston upon Thames: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about becoming a foster carer in Kingston upon Thames? You’re in the right place. This guide brings together the local picture (who to apply with and what support you can expect) and the national essentials (allowances, training, tax relief, checks and timelines). By the end, you’ll know how fostering works in Kingston, how much you can typically receive, and the fastest, safest way to start your application.

What fostering looks like locally

Fostering for Kingston upon Thames is delivered by Achieving for Children (AfC), a not-for-profit organisation that provides services on behalf of Kingston, Richmond, and Windsor & Maidenhead councils. They recruit, assess and support foster carers across these areas, so if you live in Kingston (or nearby), AfC is the main local authority route for you.

Alongside the council route, a number of independent fostering agencies (IFAs) also recruit carers who live in and around Kingston (for example, agencies that work across London and the South East). These agencies provide the same core safeguarding framework but may offer different support packages, specialist training (e.g., therapeutic fostering), and fee structures. Examples of IFAs stating coverage in Kingston include UK Fostering and ISP (illustrative of the local IFA market—do your own comparisons).

Which route should you choose—council or IFA? It depends on your circumstances and the kinds of placements you’re open to. Councils (like AfC) place children from their own area first, while IFAs work under contracts with local authorities across London and beyond—sometimes handling more specialist or hard-to-match placements. If you’re already approved elsewhere and moving to Kingston, both AfC and IFAs can guide you through a transfer process.

Fostering allowances in Kingston (2025/26)

Every foster carer receives a weekly allowance to cover the full cost of a child’s care (food, clothing, transport, etc.). In England, the government sets national minimum allowances, which are higher in London to reflect living costs. For the tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the London minimums are:

• 0–2 years: £198/week
• 3–4 years: £201/week
• 5–10 years: £225/week
• 11–15 years: £257/week
• 16–17 years: £299/week

These are the baseline figures; local authorities and IFAs may top up with additional fees depending on the child’s needs, your training/skill level, and the type of placement (e.g., parent & child, therapeutic, emergency).

In January 2025, the government confirmed an uplift to the national minimums for 2025/26; sector organisations also publish recommended levels that reflect typical costs and inflationary pressures. Some councils add extras such as birthday/festival allowances, mileage, and equipment budgets; specific amounts vary by fostering service.

Tip: When comparing AfC with IFAs, ask for a written breakdown of (1) weekly allowance, (2) any skill/fee element (sometimes called a professional fee), and (3) extras (birthdays, holidays, mileage, retainers). This lets you compare total weekly support like-for-like.

Tax relief for foster carers (and why many carers pay little or no tax)

Fostering payments are treated differently from normal self-employment. The HMRC scheme called Qualifying Care Relief (QCR) gives you a tax-free threshold made up of a fixed household amount plus a per-child amount that reflects the number and ages of children placed. Many carers find that their fostering payments fall within the QCR threshold, meaning little or no income tax is due on fostering income. You still complete Self Assessment each year, but the calculation is simplified. Always check the latest HMRC help sheet before you file.

If you want a plain-English explainer or examples, reputable guides from charities and advice bodies (such as LITRG and The Fostering Network) are kept current each April when thresholds refresh.

Who can foster in Kingston?

You don’t need to own your home, be part of a couple, or have parenting experience. What matters most is stability, space, and a strong support network. Common questions include:

• Do I need a spare room? Yes—children usually need their own bedroom (siblings are a possible exception after careful assessment).
• Can I foster if I rent? Yes—your landlord’s consent is needed and your home must pass safety checks.
• Is there an age limit? There’s a minimum age of 21; there’s no fixed upper limit if you’re fit to foster.
• Can I work? Some carers work part-time; it depends on placement type, flexibility, and support plans agreed during assessment.

AfC (or your chosen IFA) will discuss your situation at the enquiry stage and advise on the best match for you and local needs.

What types of fostering are most in demand?

Across London, the highest need is typically for teenagers, sibling groups, and children with additional/therapeutic needs. There’s also steady demand for short-term, emergency, and respite carers to support placement stability. Local needs shift over time and are tracked through Ofsted/DfE data and regional recruitment initiatives (including newer recruitment support hubs that streamline enquiries across multiple councils).

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

Whether you contact AfC (the council route) or an IFA, the process is very similar:

1. Make an enquiry
   Reach out for an initial chat about your home, family, work pattern, and preferences (age range, single children/siblings, etc.). If you’re in Kingston or nearby, AfC handles council fostering for Kingston and will explain the local support offer.
2. Home visit / information session
   A social worker or recruitment officer will visit your home to discuss the role, check space and safety basics, and answer questions about training, pay and support.
3. Training – “Skills to Foster”
   A short course that introduces attachment, safeguarding, behaviour support, education/health, records and teamwork with professionals.
4. Assessment (Form F)
   A thorough assessment covering your background, health, DBS and reference checks, finances, relationships, and motivation. You’ll also develop a Safer Caring plan tailored to your household.
5. Panel & approval
   Your assessment report goes to an independent fostering panel which makes a recommendation to the agency decision maker. You’ll be told the outcome and next steps.
6. Matching & first placement
   Your supervising social worker will explore referrals and match you carefully with a child or young person. You’ll agree support plans, contact arrangements, education and health steps, and how allowance/fees work for that placement.

Timeline: The journey commonly takes 4–6 months from enquiry to approval, although this varies depending on checks, availability for training, and gathering references (and can be quicker if you transfer from another service).

Support you can expect

A good fostering service will provide:

• Regular supervision with your supervising social worker, 24/7 on-call support, and access to peer support groups.
• Ongoing training (therapeutic parenting, PACE, attachment, safeguarding, safer internet, de-escalation).
• Help with education (Virtual School liaison), health (initial health assessments), and contact (arrangements with birth family).
• Clear policies on recording, allegations, and complaints—with advocacy for the child if needed.
• Financial framework: weekly allowance, any skill/fee element, plus extras (mileage, birthdays/festivals, holidays, equipment) according to local policy. Some London boroughs publicise extra benefits (for example, council tax support or parking concessions for their own carers); the package varies by service.

How much will I really receive?

Start with the London minimum (see figures above), then add any service-specific fee for your approval level/placement type, plus extras you can claim. Because these vary, always ask for a sample pay statement for two scenarios (e.g., one 13-year-old; two siblings aged 8 and 12) so you can see the typical total per week including mileage/contact. Government minimums help you benchmark, while sector recommendations illustrate what charities believe is needed to cover realistic costs.

Kingston-specific pointers

• Council route: Start with Achieving for Children Fostering (covers Kingston, Richmond and Windsor & Maidenhead). Enquire online or by phone; they’ll invite you to an information event or a home visit and explain local allowances/fees and support.
• Private fostering (different from council fostering): If a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is staying with someone who isn’t a close relative for 28+ days, that is private fostering and must be notified to the council. This is not the same as becoming an approved foster carer.
• Independent agencies: Several IFAs recruit in Kingston; compare training, support, respite, specialist help (e.g., therapeutic), and total pay. Use recent Ofsted reports and speak to current carers where possible. (Agency examples serving Kingston are publicly listed; see UK Fostering and ISP pages for coverage statements.)

FAQs

How do I choose between AfC and an IFA?
Consider what placements you want (e.g., siblings, teens, therapeutic), the support you’ll need, and the total financial package. Councils place from their own area first; IFAs may receive specialist or out-of-borough referrals under contracts. Meet both and compare.

What if I already foster elsewhere and I’m moving to Kingston?
You can transfer your approval. Speak to AfC (or your chosen IFA) before you give notice so they can guide you through references, notice periods and portability of your approval.

How does tax work?
Most carers use Qualifying Care Relief, which creates a generous tax-free threshold. You still file a Self Assessment, but many carers owe little or no income tax on fostering payments. Always check the current HMRC help sheet for the tax year you’re filing.

How soon could I have a placement?
After approval, matching depends on your preferences and local demand. London generally has significant need—especially for teens and sibling groups—so well-matched placements can often be found quickly.

Can I foster if I rent or live in a flat?
Yes—if your home is safe and you have a spare bedroom. Landlord consent and basic safety checks apply.

What training will I get?
You’ll complete Skills to Foster before panel and have ongoing CPD afterwards (therapeutic parenting, PACE, safeguarding, safer internet, etc.). Your supervising social worker will map out your training plan.

Your next steps in Kingston upon Thames

1. Contact AfC Fostering (council route for Kingston): attend an info event, ask about local allowances, support and training.
2. Speak to one or two IFAs that cover Kingston to compare support, respite, and fee structures in writing. (Example coverage pages shown above.)
3. Prepare your home & documents: spare-room readiness, landlord letter (if renting), ID, references, GP details, and a list of your support network.
4. Book “Skills to Foster,” complete Form F checks, and get ready for panel—the final step before your first match.
5. Keep records (and receipts for mileage, etc.) from day one; they’re essential for allowances, reviews and court-standard recording.
6. Bookmark the latest allowance and tax pages so you can refresh figures each April and file your Self Assessment with the right thresholds.