Fostering in Surrey: County-Wide Allowances, Agencies and Application Guide

Thinking about fostering in Surrey? This guide brings together the essentials: how payments work (and what you can realistically expect), who you can foster with (Surrey County Council vs independent fostering agencies), and a clear, step-by-step application route. It’s written to answer the questions people actually search for—so you can move from “interested” to “ready to enquire” with confidence.

How fostering payments work in Surrey

Fostering payments have two parts:

1. Child’s allowance – covers day-to-day costs like food, clothing, utilities, school transport, activities and equipment.
2. Carer fee/skill payment – recognises your time, training and professional commitment. These vary by agency and by placement complexity.

Surrey County Council publishes clear examples of total weekly packages. Depending on the child’s age/needs and placement type, total payments can reach up to £570 per child, per week. For specialist schemes—such as Parent & Child—the council notes totals up to £1,102.57 per week because two allowances are paid (one for the parent and one for the baby) plus a professional fee.

Behind those local figures sits the England National Minimum Allowance (NMA), uprated each April, with different bands for London, the South East and the Rest of England. Surrey falls under South East. While many services pay more than the minimum through fees and add-ons, no agency should pay below the NMA for the child’s allowance.

What influences your final package? Age band, additional needs (e.g., therapeutic support), mileage for school/contact, equipment (cots, stair-gates), and the type of fostering (short-term, long-term, emergency, respite or parent & child). Surrey also highlights separate birthday/holiday/occasional payments in line with need—always ask for a written breakdown so you can compare like-for-like across providers.

Who can you foster with in Surrey?

You have two main routes:

1) Foster for Surrey (local authority)

Fostering directly with Surrey County Council keeps children close to their schools, friends and communities. The council runs regular information sessions, publishes payment examples, and offers training (“Skills to Foster”), support groups and access to specialist services. Contact routes include the council’s fostering pages and a dedicated recruitment team.

Surrey’s children’s services were graded “Good” by Ofsted in May 2025 (ILACS inspection), a strong signal about support quality and progress across the service.

How to enquire (LA route):

• Web: Surrey County Council fostering hub (enquiry form).
• Phone/email: published contact points include 0300 470 9100 / fostering.recruitment@surreycc.gov.uk, and a regional LA collaboration inbox/number (info@lafosteringse.org.uk, 0300 131 2797). Use whichever you reach first—both are promoted across official pages.

2) Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)

IFAs also recruit in Surrey and surrounding areas (e.g., FCA/National Fostering Group; Diagrama). Packages may combine allowance and fee into a single figure and can be higher for complex placements; support structures differ, so compare training, supervision, respite and out-of-hours cover carefully. Check each agency’s Ofsted grading and local presence.

(Sector context: there’s national debate about IFA costs and market concentration; councils still commission widely from IFAs, especially for specialist or urgent placements.)

Allowances in context: what Surrey families actually budget for

• Food & clothing: Weekly shops, school shoes, seasonal coats.
• School & learning: Uniform items, clubs, trips, exam resources, laptops (where needed).
• Transport: School runs, contact centre journeys, health appointments; mileage is typically claimable.
• Activities & extras: Sports, music, youth groups, birthdays/Christmas/holiday contributions.

Surrey’s own pages make clear that the total package is designed to cover actual costs, with specialist schemes (such as Parent & Child) structured accordingly. If you’re unsure, ask your supervising social worker before committing to expenses—there may be discretionary support.

Eligibility checklist (fast answers)

• Spare room: Yes, children normally need their own bedroom (some sibling exceptions).
• Background checks: Enhanced DBS, references, medical, home safety checks.
• Work & income: You can work; flexibility for school runs and contact is key.
• Family setup: Single, married, co-habiting, LGBT+—all welcome; what matters is stability, empathy and resilience.
• Location: Anywhere in Surrey (Guildford, Woking, Reigate & Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley).

(National guidance confirms allowances for all foster carers; exact amounts and any add-ons depend on your fostering service.)

Step-by-step: applying to foster in Surrey

1. Initial enquiry (week 0): Complete the council’s online form or call for a 10–20 minute chat about your household, spare room and motivation. You’ll book onto an information event.
2. Home visit / pre-assessment (weeks 1–3): A social worker visits to discuss your experience, support network, safeguarding basics and the types of fostering needed locally.
3. Formal application & checks (weeks 3–12): Enhanced DBS for all adult household members; medical; references; home safety. You’ll start building a safer caring plan tailored to your home.
4. Training – “Skills to Foster” (weeks 6–12): Foundation course covering attachment, trauma, safer caring, recording, education and working with birth families.
5. Form F assessment (weeks 6–20): A qualified assessor completes a detailed report about your background, values, parenting approach, and the kinds of placements that would suit your household.
6. Fostering panel (around weeks 18–24): You’ll attend a panel meeting where your assessment is considered; they recommend to the agency decision maker, who confirms your approval categories/age range.
7. Matching & first placement: Once approved, you can receive referrals. You’ll get 24/7 support, supervision visits and ongoing CPD. (Parent & Child carers receive extra training and tighter recording guidance.)

How long does it take? Many carers complete the journey in 4–6 months, but speed depends on how quickly checks come back and your availability for training/home visits.

Local vs IFA: which should you choose?

• Choose Surrey County Council if you want to prioritise keeping children local to their existing schools and friends, and value a direct link with the placing authority. Surrey’s “Good” Ofsted judgement in 2025 reflects strong progress in practice and support.
• Consider IFAs if you want a particular support model (e.g., specific therapeutic framework, Mockingbird-style peer networks) or if you’re open to placements from multiple local authorities in the region. Always verify fees vs allowances separately and ask about respite, out-of-hours, and clinical input.

Parent & Child fostering in Surrey (high-demand)

This is a priority area county-wide. You support a parent (often a young mum) and baby under one roof while professionals assess parenting capacity. Surrey confirms two allowances are paid (parent + child) plus a professional fee, with higher total weekly payments than standard fostering due to the intensity and recording requirements. If you have infant care experience and a very steady home routine, ask specifically about this route at enquiry.

How to compare offers (quick checklist)

• Written breakdown: Separate child allowance from carer fee, and list extras (mileage, birthdays/holidays, equipment, respite, retainers).
• Support & training: Frequency of supervision visits, out-of-hours line, therapeutic input, peer groups, and CPD pathways.
• Placement mix: Ages/needs most in demand in Surrey right now (ask candidly).
• Stability & Ofsted: For the council, see the 2025 ILACS judgement; for IFAs, check each agency’s current Ofsted grade and local footprint.

Ready to take the first step?

• Enquire online: Surrey County Council fostering hub (fastest way to book an info session).
• Call/email the team: 0300 470 9100 / fostering.recruitment@surreycc.gov.uk (Surrey) or 0300 131 2797 / info@lafosteringse.org.uk (regional LA collaboration contact also published).

Bottom line: Surrey needs more local foster homes across all age ranges—especially teens and Parent & Child. Payments are competitive, with clear examples of total weekly packages and additional support. If you can offer a spare room, stability and a calm, curious approach to parenting, now is the right time to start the conversation.