Fostering in London: Which Boroughs Pay the Most in 2025?

If you’re comparing what London foster carers are paid in 2025, there are two parts to understand:

1. the child’s maintenance allowance (set at least at the national minimum for London), and
2. the carer fee/skills payment (set by each borough or agency and can vary a lot).

Because boroughs structure fees differently (bands, skills levels, bonuses, add-ons), a simple league table is misleading. That said, several London councils publicly advertise strong total weekly packages or stand-out extras. Below is a clear, sourced roundup so you can see who appears most competitive right now—and what to check before you choose.

First things first: London’s minimum maintenance allowance (2025/26)

For 6 April 2025 – 5 April 2026, the England national minimum fostering allowance (NMA) for the London band is: £198 (0–2), £201 (3–4), £225 (5–10), £257 (11–15), £299 (16–17) per week. Every London council or agency must at least meet these figures for the child’s day-to-day costs (food, clothing, utilities, transport, activities). Your take-home is the allowance + any fee/add-ons your borough pays.

Boroughs that stand out in 2025

Hounslow – big uplift, clear ranges, headline extras

Hounslow announced a 44% uplift across its package, stating carers can now earn from £474 to £899 per week, depending on the child’s needs. It also highlights “up to £1,130 per fortnight” in public-facing recruitment pages and promotes Council Tax refunds while you have a placement—valuable in London’s cost environment. Taken together, Hounslow is one of the most assertively competitive boroughs in 2025.

Lambeth – transparent tables (standard and enhanced)

Lambeth publishes line-by-line weekly totals that combine the London maintenance allowance with a carer payment. For example, on its Enhanced rate, carers see totals like £672.50 (0–2) up to £773.50 (16–17) per week; even the standard band shows £450–£551 depending on age. The clarity of these tables makes comparison easier and suggests robust mid-to-high packages, especially at enhanced level.

Camden – very strong specialist rates published

Camden’s public schedule shows specialist totals as high as £742.98 (0–4) and £872.76 (16–18) per week (allowance + professional fee). Even mainstream totals are clearly stated, which helps applicants model their income. Camden’s specialist tiers are among the higher public figures in London.

Ealing – sizable uplift + money-saving perks

Ealing confirmed an 18.5% increase to weekly payments (Bands 1–3) and introduced full Council Tax exemption for local carers (or reimbursement for out-of-borough carers), plus free CPZ parking and free garden waste collection—real cash savings alongside your weekly pay. That makes Ealing competitive overall, even if your exact weekly total depends on band/child age.

Brent – published “up to” weekly figure

Brent states carers can now receive up to £495 per week depending on age and experience. While the headline “up to” number looks lower than some enhanced/specialist figures elsewhere, it’s a public minimum-to-maximum guide—actual pay can move with skills, placement type, and add-ons.

Croydon – strong add-ons listed

Croydon’s fees page highlights a range of additional payments: birthday and festival allowances (up to £289), holiday allowance for the child (up to £578) and for the carer (up to £700), plus start-up grants and referral rewards. If you maximise these extras, Croydon’s overall package can be very competitive for active carers who take part in training/recruitment drives.

Note: Some borough pages publish only the London NMA and general wording (“competitive fees”), while others show precise totals. Lack of a detailed table doesn’t necessarily mean lower pay—it just means you should ask for the written breakdown.

Why a simple “top-paying borough” list can be misleading

1. Different structures: Some boroughs roll most of the package into a skills fee (tiered), others provide enhanced/specialist bands, and many separate allowances from fees. Two councils that both “pay ~£700” might be quoting different scenarios (age, complexity, specialist role).
2. Add-ons move the needle: Council Tax refunds, parking exemptions, retainers between placements, referral bonuses, and holiday/birthday/festival payments can add hundreds to thousands over a year—often the difference between middling and market-leading.
3. Specialist roles pay more: Therapeutic, parent & child, emergency, or staying put roles typically pay more than mainstream. If you’re open to specialist training and availability (e.g., out-of-hours), you’ll usually see the highest weekly totals. (Camden’s specialist figures and Lambeth’s enhanced band are good illustrations.)
4. Some LAs are in pan-borough partnerships: West London’s recruitment partnership materials explain the split between allowance (for the child) and fee (for you), and advertise minimum weekly figures under that umbrella; but each council’s final package can still differ. Always check the specific council’s page for exact numbers.

How to compare London borough pay like a pro (2025 checklist)

• Start with the London NMA (the baseline you’re guaranteed): £198–£299 depending on age. Then add the carer fee to get your true weekly total.
• Ask for a written schedule showing:
  • weekly allowance by age band;
  • weekly fee by skill/experience band;
  • enhanced/specialist rates;
  • add-ons (Council Tax, parking, mileage, start-up grants, birthday/festival/holiday, respite rates, referral bonuses).
• Check Hounslow (strong headline ranges), Lambeth (clear enhanced tables), Camden (high specialist totals), Ealing (18.5% uplift + valuable cost-savers). These four currently publish some of the clearest and/or higher-end offers in London.
• Consider your placement preferences: teens, complex needs, parent-and-child, or emergency roles typically lift the weekly package. (If you want strictly under-5s only, expect totals closer to the mainstream bands.)
• Factor in your costs: a Council Tax refund or free CPZ parking may be worth £1,000+ a year in real savings—money that doesn’t show in a weekly figure.

Where independent fostering agencies (IFAs) fit in

IFAs also recruit across London and often publish simple “from £x per week” figures. For example, some specialist/therapeutic IFAs advertise £550–£690+ per week per child, and more for specialist schemes. These numbers already blend allowance + fee, so they look higher than the LA allowance alone—but remember to compare like-for-like (age, needs, training, expectations, respite, out-of-hours cover).

So…which borough “pays the most” in 2025?

Based on publicly available London figures:

• Top headline ranges: Hounslow (roughly £474–£899/week depending on complexity) is among the most eye-catching in raw weekly totals.
• High specialist rates: Camden publishes £743–£873/week for specialist care (age-dependent). Lambeth shows £673–£774/week on its Enhanced band.
• Strong overall package: Ealing’s 18.5% uplift plus Council Tax exemption and free CPZ parking can make its offer very competitive in real terms, even where weekly totals vary by band.

Because data disclosure varies, treat these as verified examples, not a definitive league table. The best borough for you is the one that matches your household (age range you can take, bedroom availability, school runs) and offers clear fees, extras, and support.

Final tips before you apply

1. Ask for the breakdown (allowance vs fee), plus enhanced/specialist figures in writing.
2. Confirm add-ons (Council Tax, parking, retainers, holiday/birthday/festival amounts).
3. Check training, respite, and out-of-hours expectations—higher fees often come with higher availability requirements.
4. Use the London NMA as your baseline and compare the total package, not just a single weekly headline.

If you want, I can turn this into a comparison table for your site (borough × standard/enhanced/specialist × add-ons) and keep it updated as councils refresh rates through 2025/26.