Fostering
Fostering in Richmond upon Thames: How to Start and Who to Contact
Thinking about fostering in Richmond upon Thames? You’re in a strong place to begin. Children’s services in Richmond are delivered by Achieving for Children (AfC)—a not-for-profit organisation owned by the councils for Kingston, Richmond, and Windsor & Maidenhead. That means you get a local authority fostering route with joined-up support across education, health, and social care.
Why foster in Richmond?
Richmond needs foster carers for babies, school-age children, teenagers, siblings, and sometimes unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. As an AfC carer you receive training, 24/7 support, a weekly child allowance (to cover day-to-day costs), and a separate carer fee that recognises your skills—often called a “reward” or “skill” payment. AfC explains how its banded reward fee works, with additional supplements for higher-need placements.
What you’ll be paid (allowances & fees)
In England, the National Minimum Allowance (NMA) for fostering is set by the Department for Education and is uprated each April. Because Richmond is in London, the 2025/26 minimum weekly rates are: £198 (0–2), £201 (3–4), £225 (5–10), £257 (11–15), and £299 (16–17). Local authorities (and AfC) must meet at least these figures, and many carers receive more overall once you include any fee/skill payment and agreed add-ons like mileage, birthdays or holidays.
Don’t forget tax relief
Most carers benefit from Qualifying Care Relief (QCR)—HMRC’s simplified tax scheme for foster carers. For 2025/26 there’s a fixed annual household amount plus a weekly amount per child; many carers pay no tax on fostering income once QCR is applied. (AfC and HMRC provide guidance—always follow the current helpsheet or speak to a tax adviser.)
Who delivers fostering locally?
Richmond’s fostering is run by Achieving for Children Fostering. The borough’s website routes prospective carers to AfC for enquiries and applications, making AfC your local authority fostering service and first point of contact.
How to contact the fostering team
- Phone: 0300 131 2797
- Email: info@lafosteringse.org.uk
- You can also use the short online enquiry form if you prefer a call-back.
Tip: If you already live in Richmond or Kingston, mention your postcode when you call—AfC serves both boroughs, so they’ll direct you to the right local worker.
How to start: the Richmond (AfC) pathway
Below is the typical journey from first enquiry to approval. Timings vary, but most approvals complete in 4–6 months if checks return promptly and training is finished on time.
1) Enquire and initial chat
Call or email the AfC fostering team. They’ll check basic eligibility (age 21+, stable home, spare bedroom for most placements, right to live/work in the UK) and answer early questions on types of fostering, support, and payments. If things look positive, you’ll be invited to an information event or a one-to-one.
2) Home visit (pre-assessment)
A social worker visits to discuss your motivation, experience with children, daily routines, work hours, support network, pets, and the suitability of your home. This is an informal stage to help you decide whether to proceed and to identify any small adaptations that would help a child feel safe and comfortable.
3) Application & checks (Form F)
If you apply, AfC begins the Form F assessment. Expect DBS checks, references, medical, financial and health & safety checks, plus a series of reflective sessions about your life story, strengths, and learning needs. You’ll create or update a Safer Caring plan for your household.
4) “Skills to Foster” training
You’ll attend core training that covers therapeutic parenting, safeguarding, education, contact with birth family, recording, equality and diversity, and self-care. The course prepares you for panel and the first placement; AfC also offers specialist modules later (e.g., caring for teens, PACE/trauma-informed approaches, and UASC).
5) Fostering panel & approval
Your Form F goes to an independent panel that reads the assessment and meets you. The Agency Decision Maker (ADM) then gives the final approval. Your supervising social worker will agree your approval terms (age range, number of children, placement types) and set up your first-year training plan.
6) Matching & first placement
Once approved, AfC’s placements team will discuss referrals that match your household. You’ll review key information (school, health, contact, risks) before saying yes. From day one you’ll have a supervising social worker, out-of-hours support, and links to the Virtual School and health teams when needed.
What Richmond carers often ask
Do I need a spare room?
For most placements, yes—a separate bedroom is expected so a child has their own safe space. There are specific exceptions (for example, some short-break Family Link arrangements), but your assessor will set this out clearly.
Can I foster if I rent or work full-time?
Yes to both—many carers rent, and many work. The key is that your availability matches the child’s needs (school runs, meetings, contact, appointments) and that your landlord consents. AfC will talk through practicalities during the home visit.
What about training and support?
Beyond pre-approval training, AfC offers ongoing CPD, peer groups, and bespoke support for higher-need placements. Payments include the weekly child allowance plus a banded reward fee that rises with skills and complexity.
Are there local information events?
Yes—AfC regularly runs online and in-person information sessions. When you call or submit the enquiry form, they’ll invite you to the next event.
Building your budget: allowances, fees and typical extras
When comparing agencies, always ask for a written breakdown that separates:
- the child’s allowance (must meet or exceed the national minimum), and
- your fee/skill payment (varies by agency and your experience).
Also ask about mileage (school, contact, activities), equipment grants (e.g., cot, stairgates), and one-off payments (birthdays/holidays/festivals). Using the GOV.UK NMA table for London ensures you’re working from the correct baseline for Richmond.
Next steps: get your questions answered
- Call AfC Fostering: 0300 131 2797
- Email: info@lafosteringse.org.uk
- Richmond Council page & signposting to AfC (overview and local link-up).
If you’re ready, book a call and ask about: current priority needs (e.g., siblings or teens), training dates, expected approval timeline, and an example payment breakdown for a placement in your preferred age range. You can also request a copy of AfC’s carer handbook and payments overview to read at home.
Quick checklist before you enquire
- I (or we) are over 21, with the right to live/work in the UK.
- We can offer a stable home in Richmond/nearby with a spare bedroom.
- Our routine and support network can flex around a child’s needs.
- We’re open to training, reflective supervision, and team-around-the-child working.
- We’ve looked at the London NMA figures and understand how fees sit on top.