Fostering in Leeds: Payments, Training and Agency List

Thinking about fostering in Leeds? Great choice. Leeds has one of the most active fostering communities in the North, a well-resourced council service, and a mix of independent fostering agencies (IFAs) that support everything from short-term and long-term care to therapeutic, sibling and parent-and-child placements. Below you’ll find a clear breakdown of how payments work in 2025/26, what training and support you can expect, and a curated agency list (with Ofsted context) to help you compare local options with confidence.

Payments in Leeds (2025/26): how the money actually works

1) National baseline (allowances)

Across England, foster carers must receive at least the National Minimum Allowance (NMA) set by the Department for Education. The NMA varies by the child’s age and by region (London, South East, Rest of England). Leeds sits in the Rest of England band. For the tax year 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the weekly NMA is: £170 (age 0–2), £176 (3–4), £194 (5–10), £220 (11–15), £258 (16–17). Agencies can (and often do) pay more than this baseline.

Why that matters: when you compare “how much will I be paid?”, always separate the child’s allowance (to cover food, clothing, transport, activities, utilities) from the carer fee (your professional fee for the work you do). The allowance is meant for the child’s day-to-day costs; the fee is your income on top.

2) Leeds City Council (Foster4Leeds) – allowance plus a fee

Leeds City Council’s recruitment site (Foster4Leeds) explains that carers receive the weekly allowance plus a weekly fee. For a standard “Level Two Household”, Foster4Leeds lists a weekly fee of £134.96 per child, paid in addition to the allowance. Exact figures for the allowance portion will follow the national minimums above (or local top-ups where applicable).

Leeds City Council has also publicly signalled a track record of uplifting fees/allowances during cost-of-living pressures (e.g., a 7% proposal taken to Executive Board in 2022), which is useful context when you’re considering long-term support and reviews.

3) What IFAs in Leeds typically pay

Independent agencies publish guide figures for total weekly payments (allowance + fee). For instance:

• Compass Fostering (Leeds) cites an average of around £370 per week per child.
• National Fostering Group (NFA) – Leeds page quotes ~£24,500 per year average, with some placements £35,000+ a year (figures are marketing averages and will vary by placement type and carer skill level).
• Swiis (Leeds) advertises up to £580/week for one child in certain scenarios.

Treat these as illustrative; always ask any provider for a written breakdown: age band, placement type, allowance vs. fee split, add-ons (retainer, birthday/holiday payments, mileage, equipment), and what happens during gaps between placements.

4) Tax relief that helps your take-home

Most carers pay little or no Income Tax on fostering income thanks to Qualifying Care Relief (QCR). For 2025/26, HMRC’s QCR combines a fixed annual amount with a weekly amount per person in your care, which means a large slice of fostering receipts is tax-free. (Always check HMRC’s current helpsheet or speak to an accountant.)

Training and support in Leeds: what you’ll get

Foster4Leeds pathway. Leeds City Council’s fostering pages outline a comprehensive package: pre-approval training (“Skills to Foster”), ongoing courses (safeguarding, attachment/trauma, therapeutic approaches), and structured support from supervising social workers. The council also sets out accessible contact routes via its “one minute guides” and Foster4Leeds portal—useful if you’re just starting out.

Specialisms and additional support. Leeds also recruits for specific roles (e.g., carers for children with disabilities), highlighting targeted assessment, training and support for these placements—important if you’re interested in higher-needs or specialist care.

With IFAs. Reputable agencies in the Leeds area mirror similar core training and often add therapeutic models, clinical consultation, and 24/7 out-of-hours cover. When comparing, ask about:

• caseloads per supervising social worker,
• 24/7 response times,
• access to clinical/education specialists,
• respite availability,
• peer support groups and mentoring.

How to become a foster carer in Leeds (quick route map)

1. Initial enquiry – to Leeds City Council (Foster4Leeds) or an IFA; attend an information event or phone call. Council contact lines are published and easy to reach.
2. Home visit & checks – you’ll discuss your home, space (spare room), family, work patterns, support network.
3. Training & Form F assessment – structured interviews, references, medicals, DBS, home study; you complete Skills to Foster.
4. Panel – an independent panel reviews your assessment and recommends approval terms (age range, number of children, placement types).
5. First placement & ongoing support – supervision visits, training, support groups, and annual reviews.

Agency list: who serves Leeds (with context)

Below are established options that either are the local authority (Leeds City Council) or serve the Leeds/West Yorkshire footprint as registered IFAs. Use this to build a shortlist, then compare fees vs allowances, training, support, and Ofsted track record.

Leeds City Council (Foster4Leeds)

• What they offer: Allowance at least meeting national minimum plus a weekly fee (e.g., Level Two household fee £134.96 per child/week); strong local training and support; direct links into local schools and services.
• Good to know: Clear contact lines and “one minute guides”; specialist streams (disability fostering).

Unity Foster Care (Head office in Leeds)

• Profile: Leeds-based IFA with Ofsted-inspected service (inspection reports hosted on Ofsted). Address on a recent report: First Floor, 4340 The Pentagon, Park Approach, Thorpe Park, Leeds LS15 8GB.
• Why shortlist: Local head office and regional focus; ask for current Ofsted grade and latest report link, plus training/therapeutic offer.

Team Fostering (Yorkshire & East Midlands)

• Profile: Employee-owned IFA operating across Yorkshire (office base listed in Ofsted as Sheffield; serves Leeds and West Yorkshire). Recent materials indicate ‘Good’ judgements in Yorkshire/NE teams; 2025 inspection reports available.
• Why shortlist: Strong ethical stance, non-profit/employee-owned model; ask about education and therapeutic support.

Orange Grove Fostercare (Leeds / West Yorkshire)

• Profile: Leeds team supporting families across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and beyond; marketing materials reference high ratings.
• Why shortlist: Local office presence and West Yorkshire network; ask for latest Ofsted grade and support model.

Compass Fostering (Leeds)

• Profile: Large IFA group with a Leeds page; publishes average pay guidance (~£370/week per child).
• Why shortlist: Scale and training library; verify local support ratios and how complex placements are matched.

National Fostering Group (NFA) – Leeds

• Profile: National group with a Leeds-specific page; shows example annual figures to illustrate potential earnings.
• Why shortlist: Networked support; ask which NFG agency covers your postcode and the exact package (fee + allowance).

Foster Care Associates (FCA) – Yorkshire & Lincolnshire

• Profile: Recent Ofsted news confirms ‘Outstanding’ in all areas’ (2025) for the regional service—strong quality signal.
• Why shortlist: High inspection outcome; confirm what this means for the Leeds patch (team structure, support, mentoring).

Swiis Foster Care (Leeds)

• Profile: Leeds page references upper-range weekly figures for certain placement types (up to £580/week for one child).
• Why shortlist: Structured professional model; check training, respite, and education support provisions.

How to use Ofsted information: Look up the exact provider name and URN on Ofsted’s site and read the latest full report (not just company marketing). Focus on safeguarding, placement stability, carer supervision, and leadership/management judgement.

Which should you choose: council or IFA?

There’s no single “best” route—it depends on your household, preferred placement types, and the support style you value.

• Council (Foster4Leeds): Direct link to Leeds schools and services; stable local placements; transparent fee on top of allowance; strong ties to local training and peer groups.
• IFAs: Often higher combined packages for complex placements and extensive training libraries; some offer clinical consultation and specialist teams; Ofsted judgements vary by agency/region—check the latest.

Most experienced carers will tell you to interview the agency as much as they interview you. Ask:

1. How fast is out-of-hours support?
2. What’s the supervising social worker caseload?
3. How do you handle allegations and what support do carers get?
4. What’s the real average allowance vs fee split for my postcode and the age range I’ll take?

Training you can expect (and should ask for)

• Pre-approval: Skills to Foster (foundation), safeguarding, safer caring, recording and data protection. Leeds publishes concise “one minute guides” and signposts to policy documents and procedures so you can see expectations upfront.
• Core post-approval: attachment and trauma-informed care (e.g., PACE techniques), de-escalation/safer handling theory, equality and diversity, working with birth families/contact, education and SEND (EHCPs, Pupil Premium Plus), digital safety.
• Specialist (ask specifically): therapeutic fostering modules, parent-and-child assessment skills, caring for disabled children (Leeds has a dedicated track), counter-exploitation awareness (county lines), and note-taking for courts.

Top tip: when an agency says “excellent training”, ask for the course list and how many CPD hours they guarantee per year. Also ask whether travel/mileage and childcare for training days are reimbursed.

What about mileage, equipment, birthdays and holidays?

Beyond the weekly allowance and fee, most providers cover mileage (school runs, contact), equipment (e.g., cots, stair gates), and occasional costs like birthday/holiday/festive allowances. The structure and rates vary; councils and Trusts often publish the categories even when they don’t list the exact figures on the public site. If you’ll be doing regular long-distance contact or multiple school runs, agree a mileage rate and process in writing. (National guidance and council announcements illustrate how extras sit alongside the core allowance.)

Quick contact & next steps

• Leeds City Council – Foster4Leeds: published contact numbers and email for the Fostering Service and the Recruitment & Retention Team are here (handy if you want to book an information session straight away).
• Prefer to compare two or three IFAs? Shortlist from the local list above and request:
  • a written breakdown (allowance + fee + add-ons),
  • a sample training calendar,
  • Ofsted report link (latest), and
  • details of peer support (buddying/mentoring).

Bottom line

Leeds offers robust options whether you choose Foster4Leeds or a reputable independent agency. For 2025/26, peg your expectations to the England National Minimum Allowance (Rest of England rates) and then look at the fee/top-ups each provider adds. Foster4Leeds explicitly lists a weekly fee on top of allowance (e.g., £134.96 per child for a Level Two household), while several IFAs advertise higher combined packages for certain placement types. Your best move is to compare like-for-like in writing, ask about support quality (not just pay), and choose the team you trust to stand beside you—on day one, during 3am phone calls, and at annual review.