Fostering in Medway: Local Payments, Process and Contacts

Thinking about fostering in Medway? This guide brings together what you’ll be paid, how the approval process works, and who to contact—all in one place. We’ve used Medway Council’s latest 2025 policy papers and official pages so you can make informed decisions fast.

What do foster carers get paid in Medway?

Medway operates a two-part payment: a maintenance allowance (for the child’s day-to-day costs) plus a reward fee (your professional fee). In January 2025 the Council approved an updated Fees & Allowances framework to stay competitive with independent agencies and neighbouring authorities. Highlights include: a tiered structure by age and need, paid respite/annual leave, a Skills & Services annual payment, increased Council Tax contribution, and lower mileage thresholds so more travel can be claimed.

Key extras to know about

• Annual leave / respite: 16 days paid leave per year for most carers (up to 24 days for carers of children with disabilities).
• Council Tax contribution: policy confirms an annual contribution (figure and mechanics set out in the Council decision report).
• Mileage: threshold reduced from 700 to 200 miles/month; mileage paid at HMRC’s typical local-authority rate when agreed.
• Festival & birthday payments: £200 per child each year for festivals and £300 per child for birthdays (paid one month before).
• Skills & Services payment: an annual loyalty/skills payment with bands linked to years of service and completion of training/support groups.
• Day care / respite / support hours: certain tasks are paid at an hourly rate (£11.94) where agreed by the service.

Medway’s 2025 policy states it aims to exceed the National Minimum Allowance (England) after the national 3.55% uprating for 2025/26—so the local package benchmarks at or above the England baseline and adds the extras above.

Parent & Child (P&C) placements (high demand)

If you’re trained and approved for P&C, Medway pays an all-inclusive weekly fee. Current policy examples include £1,024/week for one parent with one child (12-week assessed placement), £1,536/week for one parent with two children or two parents with one child, and £583/week for pre-birth (6 weeks). Where the mother is under 18, the table shows the P&C rate plus the standard age-related maintenance/reward for the young person.

How the fostering process works in Medway

Medway follows the England framework (Care Planning Regulations, statutory checks, and Fostering Panel). The journey typically looks like this:

1. Enquiry & informal chat
   Call or submit interest online for a no-pressure conversation about your home, family, availability, and the types of fostering you’re curious about.
2. Information session & initial home visit
   You’ll learn about placement types (short-term, long-term, respite, emergency, P&C), support, and pay. A worker will check basic home safety (including bedroom space) and talk through your support network.
3. Application & checks (Form F assessment)
   Standard checks include DBS, medical, references, finances, and a home study with several visits. Your assessor also helps you draft a Safer Caring Policy and evidence portfolio.
4. Training
   You’ll complete the Skills to Foster course and may do additional modules (e.g., therapeutic parenting, trauma awareness, P&C preparation). Medway’s 2025 policy also references peer mentors and paid “Fostering Champions” support at enquiry/early stages.
5. Panel & approval
   Your Form F goes to Fostering Panel, which makes a recommendation; the Agency Decision Maker confirms your approval terms. Then you’re live for matching.
6. Matching & support
   Medway emphasises keeping Medway children with Medway carers, supported by a strengthened package to improve stability and retention. Expect regular supervising social worker visits, support groups, training refreshers, and access to respite.

Eligibility: can you foster in Medway?

• Spare bedroom: You generally need a dedicated bedroom for each child placed (exceptions for some siblings/age ranges are assessed case-by-case).
• Age & life stage: There’s no upper age limit provided you’re medically fit and have the energy/time to meet a child’s needs.
• Employment: You can work—what matters is availability for school runs, meetings, and contact.
• Location: Living in or near Medway helps with schools, contact, and local services; Medway’s strategy is to place local children locally where possible.

If you’re in border areas (e.g., Sittingbourne, Gravesham, Maidstone), Kent County Council also recruits widely with transparent tables for maintenance + reward and strong packages for specialist schemes (P&C, STEP-DOWN, etc.). Comparing the two can be helpful, especially if you live right on a boundary.

Allowances vs fees, and how tax works

Every foster carer asks, “What do I actually take home?”

• Maintenance = the child’s living costs.
• Reward/fee = your professional fee (varies by need/experience).
• Add-ons = birthdays, festivals, respite, mileage, training/mentoring hours where agreed.

England’s National Minimum Allowance (by region and age) gives a floor; London and the South East have higher NMAs than the Rest of England. Medway benchmarks at/above these South East figures.

For tax, most carers use Qualifying Care Relief (QCR) so a large portion of fostering income is tax-free. (You’ll still complete Self Assessment; keep simple records of placements and weeks.) Your supervising social worker or training team will signpost HMRC guidance at approval. (We cover current QCR thresholds in our national allowances article.)

Who to contact (Medway & nearby)

• Medway Fostering Team — 01634 335726 or visit medway.gov.uk/fostering for an enquiry form, upcoming information events, and FAQs.
• Support offer (at a glance) — overview pages outline the 2025 package: tiered needs, maintenance + reward, festival (£200), birthday (£300), 14 nights paid respite (policy update increases/clarifies leave), Council Tax contribution, and other incentives.

If you’re exploring Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) serving Medway, examples include Lighthouse Fostering, Anchor Foster Care, Homefinding & Fostering, and Heath Farm (part of NFA). Always ask each provider to break down allowance vs fee vs add-ons so you can compare like-for-like with the Council offer.

Regional backdrop: Medway is part of the South East recruitment hub collaboration, aiming to streamline enquiries and boost local placements—so it’s a good time to pick up the phone if you’ve been considering it.

Quick checklist before you apply

• Space: a safe, welcoming spare bedroom.
• Time & flexibility: for school, meetings, contact, and emergencies.
• Support network: at least one or two reliable adults who can help.
• Openness to training: Medway expects ongoing CPD; the Skills & Services payment recognises commitment.
• Transport: placements often involve school and contact mileage—Medway’s lower mileage threshold (to 200 miles/month) means more is claimable when agreed.

Why choose Medway?

• Competitive 2025 package designed to exceed national minimums and reduce reliance on external placements.
• Clear extras (birthday, festival, leave, mentoring rates, Council Tax contribution).
• Local-first matching so children can stay near school, friends, and family whenever possible—better for stability and outcomes.

Next steps

1. Call Medway Fostering on 01634 335726 for an informal chat, or start your enquiry at medway.gov.uk/fostering.
2. Ask for a written breakdown of payments (maintenance, reward, add-ons) for the placement types you’re open to.
3. If you live near a boundary, compare with Kent’s published tables—then choose the route that fits your family, not just the headline figure.