Fostering in Medway: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about fostering in Medway? You’re in exactly the right place. This guide pulls together the latest allowances for 2025/26, how Medway Council supports its carers, independent agencies working locally, and a clear, step-by-step application route. It’s written for would-be carers in Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham—and anyone comparing the Medway Council route with independent fostering agencies (IFAs).

Why Medway needs more foster carers

Across England, the number of fostering households has been slipping while the need for placements stays high, which is why local services are recruiting hard. Official DfE/Ofsted data for 2023–24 recorded 42,615 fostering households, continuing a multi-year decline—so every new carer genuinely matters.

Medway’s goal is simple: local homes for local children. The council explicitly aims to place Medway children with Medway-approved carers—keeping schools, friends and support networks stable.

Medway has also joined Local Authority Fostering South East, a partnership of 20 councils working together on recruitment and support—so when you enquire, you’re tapping into the region’s biggest local-authority fostering network.

Allowances and fees in Medway (2025/26)

1) National minimum weekly allowances (set by government)

From 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026, the national minimum fostering allowance depends on a child’s age and where you live. Medway is in the South East band. Minimum weekly amounts are:

• Age 0–2: £189
• Age 3–4: £196
• Age 5–10: £216
• Age 11–15: £247
• Age 16–17: £288

These rates are what every fostering service must at least cover to meet a child’s day-to-day needs (food, clothing, transport, etc.).

You may also be able to claim extra help for birthdays, holidays, and similar expenses—ask your service about their process.

2) Medway Council’s payment structure

Medway pays using a two-part model: a maintenance allowance (to cover the child’s costs) plus a reward/skill fee for the carer, with payments every two weeks. Medway uses age bands and skill levels that increase as you train and gain experience.

On its public pages, Medway indicates that carers could receive up to c. £31.6k a year (scenario-based and dependent on skill level and number of children), alongside extras like loyalty payments and training-linked bonuses. Always confirm current figures with the team when you enquire.

Medway also refreshes its Fees & Allowances Policy periodically—the most recent policy documents emphasise the council’s push to keep Medway children placed locally with in-house Medway carers.

3) How agency fees compare

Independent fostering agencies (IFAs) often top up above the national minimum to reflect complexity and support packages. Public examples show typical weekly ranges over £500 per child in parts of the South East; exact amounts vary by agency, child’s needs and your experience. Use these as ballpark comparisons only and ask each agency for written breakdowns:

• Fostering People cites £454–£860.88 weekly ranges, with an England “standard” over £501 for a child 5+.
• Tree House Care reports an average of ~£539.50 per child per week (July 2025).

Tip: When you compare offers, check what’s included (allowance vs fee), any retainers, respite, mileage rates, birthday/holiday contributions, training bonuses, and what support is available out of hours.

Foster carer tax: the good news about Qualifying Care Relief

Most foster carers use Qualifying Care Relief (QCR)—HMRC’s simplified scheme that combines a fixed annual amount (£19,360 per household in 2025/26) with a weekly amount per child (£405 if under 11; £485 if 11+). If your fostering receipts are below the total “qualifying amount”, you pay no tax on them (you usually still complete Self-Assessment).

If your receipts exceed that amount, you can either pay tax on the excess (simplified method) or elect for the profit method and claim allowable expenses; HMRC’s helpsheet explains both options clearly.

Who can foster in Medway?

Medway sets clear criteria. In brief, you should have:

• A spare bedroom,
• Be 21+,
• Right to remain in the UK (British citizenship, permanent residence or ILR),
• Be a driver with access to a car,
• Be fit and healthy to care for a child.

Medway also notes there’s no upper age limit, and they welcome carers from any background.

(If you live in a rented property, that’s usually fine—just expect landlord checks as part of your assessment. Agencies and councils across the South East reinforce the spare room requirement.)

Agencies serving Medway (who to contact)

You have two main routes: Medway Council Fostering (the local authority) or independent fostering agencies commissioned by councils. The right choice depends on your preferences around support, training intensity, fees, and the types of placements you’d like.

• Medway Council Fostering – direct with the local authority; part of the Local Authority Fostering South East hub; strong emphasis on keeping Medway children in Medway; 24/7 support and regular social-worker visits. Start here if you want to prioritise local placements.
• Lighthouse Fostering – covers Kent and Medway; small-to-medium IFA with local numbers and training.
• ISP Fostering – long-established therapeutic IFA with centres in Rainham, Whitstable and Teynham.
• Heath Farm (National Fostering Group) – Kent-based service (Herne Bay) operating across London, Kent and Essex.
• Anchor Foster Care – recruiting across Medway Towns and Kent.
• Diagrama Fostering – active across Kent including the Medway towns.

How to choose: Speak to Medway Council and one or two IFAs. Ask about support out of hours, training, the mix of placement types they receive locally, and how they support you through allegations or complex situations.

Types of fostering available in Medway

Medway recruits for a range of placement types, including:

• Short-term / mainstream (from days to a couple of years),
• Long-term / permanence,
• Respite / short breaks,
• Parent and child,
• Specialist/therapeutic for higher needs.

If you’re unsure where to start, talk to the team about your home, support network and work pattern—they’ll help you match the type of fostering that fits your family.

How to apply: step-by-step

Here’s what the Medway process usually looks like (timescales vary, but many people complete approval in several months):

1. Initial enquiry
   Register your interest online or call 0300 131 2797. You’ll have an informal chat and, if you meet criteria, a home visit may be arranged.
2. Home visit & eligibility checks
   A social worker visits (in person or via video) to discuss your lifestyle, experience and spare room, and to explain the journey ahead. This is still no-obligation.
3. Application, references and checks
   If you proceed, you’ll complete application forms and begin statutory checks (DBS, medical, references) and a home safety review. (Every fostering service in the UK follows this safeguarding baseline.)
4. Pre-approval training
   You’ll complete core training to prepare for your role (communication, trauma-aware care, safer caring). Medway offers ongoing training and 24-hour support once you’re approved.
5. Form F assessment
   Your assessing social worker meets you several times to build a picture of your life, skills and support network. The findings are compiled in a Form F report.
6. Fostering panel & approval
   You’ll attend panel—a group of independent members and professionals who read your report and ask questions. They make a recommendation; the agency decision maker confirms approval.
7. Matching & first placement
   Once approved, your supervising social worker discusses referrals and helps you say yes to the right match. During a placement, children’s social workers must visit regularly (more frequently at the start) to ensure everything is going well.

Practical FAQs for Medway carers

Do I need a spare room?
Yes. Medway requires a spare bedroom the child can make their own. (This is standard across the South East.)

Is there an upper age limit?
No. You must be 21+, but there’s no maximum age—approval is about health, energy and support network.

Can I foster if I rent?
Usually, yes. Expect landlord consent and home-safety checks as part of assessment. (Discuss your specific setup during the home visit.)

Do I need to drive?
Medway lists being a driver with access to a car among its criteria (think school runs, contact and activities).

How is my fostering income taxed?
Most carers benefit from Qualifying Care Relief—in 2025/26 that’s a £19,360 fixed household amount plus a weekly amount per child; if your total receipts stay under that, there’s no tax on them. (You’ll still register for Self-Assessment.)

Medway vs IFA: which route is right for me?

• Choose Medway Council if you want to prioritise local placements, feel part of the corporate parenting team, and access council-led training and support.
• Consider an IFA if you’re drawn to therapeutic models, potentially higher fee packages, or specialist support structures; just remember actual income depends on the number/complexity of placements and what each agency includes.

Either way, ask every provider the same questions about support, training, finance breakdowns, respite, and out-of-hours help—then pick the team that feels like the best fit for your family.