Fostering
Fostering in Richmond upon Thames: Apply, Train and Earn
Becoming a foster carer in Richmond upon Thames is a practical way to change a child’s life while building a rewarding career from home. This guide walks you through how to apply, what training looks like, and how you can earn through allowances and fees—tailored to local life in Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton, Barnes and Kew.
Why Foster in Richmond upon Thames?
What makes Richmond a great place to foster
Richmond is a family-oriented borough with excellent parks, schools and community groups—ideal for helping children feel safe and start anew. The area needs carers for babies, school-age children and teenagers, as well as homes for siblings to stay together. If you can offer a spare bedroom, patience and consistency, you can make a real impact close to home.
How to Apply to Foster in Richmond
Simple steps from enquiry to approval
The application starts with a short enquiry call where you’ll ask questions and share a bit about your household. Next comes a home visit to discuss fostering in more detail and check basics like space and safety. If you choose to proceed, you’ll enter a structured assessment (often called Form F) covering your experience, support network, lifestyle, references and safeguarding understanding. You’ll attend the Skills to Foster course and a fostering panel will make the final recommendation. From first contact to approval commonly takes a few months—sometimes faster if your checks return promptly and your availability is clear.
Who Can Become a Foster Carer?
Clear, inclusive eligibility
Fostering welcomes singles, couples, homeowners and renters. You’ll need:
- A spare bedroom suitable for a child or young person
- Sufficient time and stability to support placements
- A strong support network (friends/family who can help)
- Openness to background checks (DBS), medicals and references
- A willingness to work with schools, health teams and birth families
If you’re renting in Richmond upon Thames, you’ll simply provide landlord consent. Working full-time can be compatible with some placement types; agencies will help you match fostering to your schedule.
Training and Support You’ll Receive
Skills to Foster and ongoing development
New carers complete Skills to Foster, a practical foundation covering attachment, trauma, safer caring, recording, education and contact with birth families. After approval, you’ll access continuous professional development (CPD)—from therapeutic parenting and PACE to de-escalation, digital safety, and supporting neurodiverse young people. Expect regular supervision with your supervising social worker, 24/7 out-of-hours support, local peer groups, and online learning you can fit around family life.
Allowances, Fees and How You Earn
What’s included—and how top-ups work
Searches for fostering allowance Richmond upon Thames are common, so here’s the straightforward version. Carers receive:
- A weekly allowance for the child’s day-to-day needs (food, clothing, utilities, school costs, transport, hobbies)
- A carer fee/skill payment that recognises your time and professionalism
- Extras, often for birthdays, holidays and mileage; sometimes equipment grants for cots, car seats or laptops
Actual figures vary by the child’s age/needs and by provider (local authority or independent fostering agency). Many households find they can earn a competitive weekly package, especially when caring for teens, larger sibling groups or children with additional needs. Foster carers also benefit from qualifying care relief for tax, which often means little or no income tax on fostering income. If you’re comparing fostering agencies in Richmond upon Thames, ask for a written breakdown: allowance vs fee, plus what’s included for training, respite and travel.
Types of Fostering You Can Do in Richmond
Match your home and lifestyle to the right placement
- Short-term fostering: caring during assessments or court proceedings
- Long-term fostering: offering stability until adulthood
- Emergency fostering: same-day or overnight placements
- Respite: planned short breaks supporting other carers
- Parent and Child (P&C): supporting a parent and their baby in your home
- Therapeutic fostering: enhanced support for children with higher trauma needs
- UASC (unaccompanied asylum-seeking children): a chance to support young people’s language, education and community integration
Agencies will discuss which types align with your availability, strengths and home set-up.
Timeline: From First Call to First Placement
What to expect and how to keep things moving
- Enquiry & info session – explore the role and ask questions.
- Initial visit – brief home check, deeper discussion about fostering.
- Assessment (Form F) – home study, references, DBS, medicals, training.
- Panel – a friendly professional meeting to review your suitability.
- Approval & matching – your supervising social worker contacts you when referrals arrive that fit your preferences.
You can help speed things up by preparing ID and address history, booking GP/DBS checks quickly, and completing training modules as soon as they’re offered.
Working with Schools and Local Services
Education, health and contact made straightforward
Children in care have priority in school admissions and support from the Virtual School head for looked-after children. As a carer, you’ll attend PEP meetings, liaise with SENCOs where needed, and keep simple daily logs noting achievements, routines and any concerns. Health appointments—GP, dentist, optician—are arranged soon after placement, with referrals to CAMHS or community mental health services where appropriate. You’ll also support family time/contact in line with the care plan, often with venues and transport agreed in advance.
Choosing Between the Local Authority and IFAs
Factors to weigh up
Both Richmond upon Thames Council and independent fostering agencies (IFAs) support carers in the borough. When deciding, compare:
- Support model: supervision frequency, 24/7 help, respite, therapy access
- Training path: therapeutic modules, specialist courses (e.g., P&C, UASC)
- Payment package: allowance, fees, add-ons, equipment, mileage
- Placement types: availability of the age ranges and needs you prefer
- Location: distance to training venues, schools, contact centres
A quick call with two or three providers will make the differences clear. Be open about your household rhythms—school runs, shift work, pets—so matching suits your life.
Safer Caring, Bedrooms and Home Set-Up
Practical home requirements
Each child needs their own bedroom (rare exceptions apply, such as some sibling arrangements agreed in advance). You’ll create a simple safer caring policy for your home, covering bedtime routines, bathrooms, visitors, gaming/phones and social media. Pets are welcome in many fostering households; you’ll complete a pet risk assessment and ensure safe spaces. If adaptations are necessary—locks for medicines or garden ponds, for example—your agency will guide you.
Recording, Allegations and Your Support
Staying confident and protected
You’ll keep concise daily notes about health, education and routines; your agency’s recording system makes this straightforward. If an allegation arises (which can happen in any caring role), your supervising social worker will walk you through the process, and independent support is available. Good training, clear boundaries and consistent recording keep you safe and confident.
Ready to Start? Your Next Three Steps
Make your enquiry count
- Book a call with a Richmond-serving provider—ask about placement demand (teens, siblings, UASC), training pathway and total weekly package.
- Gather documents—ID, address history, landlord permission if renting, and names of three referees.
- Prepare your home—declutter the spare room, check smoke alarms, and draft a simple safer caring outline (your assessor will help refine it).
Final word
If you’re searching for “fostering in Richmond upon Thames” because you want meaningful, paid work that fits family life, you’re in the right place. The path is structured but friendly: apply, complete training, and then earn through a transparent package that covers the child’s needs and recognises your time and skill. Whether you choose the local authority or an independent fostering agency in Richmond upon Thames, you’ll be guided at every step—and a young person nearby will gain the stability they deserve.