Fostering in Wandsworth: Allowances and Support (2025/26)

Thinking about becoming a foster carer in Wandsworth—or already caring and want the latest on money and support? Here’s a clear, practical guide to what you can expect in 2025/26: how allowances work, typical fees paid on top, training and day-to-day support, tax relief, and how Wandsworth compares with agencies. Everything below is designed to help you budget confidently and decide the best route for your family.

What “allowances” cover (and how they differ from “fees”)

The allowance is there to cover a child’s everyday costs—food, clothing, utilities, transport, school items, clubs, birthdays and festive spend. It’s separate from any carer fee (sometimes called a skill payment or professional fee), which recognises your time, skills and commitment. Local authorities and independent fostering agencies (IFAs) must at least meet the national minimum (or recommended) allowance for the child’s age and location, but they often pay more by adding a fee on top.

The 2025/26 minimum weekly allowances (England—London band)

Because Wandsworth is in London, the London national minimum fostering allowance (NMA) applies from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026. The weekly baseline by age is: £198 (0–2), £201 (3–4), £225 (5–10), £257 (11–15), £299 (16–17). Treat these as the floor—councils and IFAs can and do pay more by adding carer fees.

Good to know: England’s 2025/26 uplift was +3.55%, part of wider moves to shore up carer finances.

What Wandsworth typically pays (allowance plus fee)

Wandsworth advertises competitive packages that layer a weekly fee on top of the child’s allowance. Their public “Why choose us” page shows indicative totals for two age bands:

• Ages 0–10: Weekly fee £194.40 + allowance £209.80 = £404.20 per week
• Ages 11–18: Weekly fee £228.30 + allowance £273.04 = £501.34 per week

Wandsworth also offers enhanced fees for children with additional needs. Figures can vary by placement and assessment, but these published examples give a realistic feel for budgeting.

If you’re transferring from an agency or another council, ask the recruitment team to share a written breakdown so you can compare like-for-like (allowance vs fee, plus add-ons such as retainers, respite rates, mileage, birthday/holiday payments).

Extra help you can claim (mileage, birthdays, equipment)

Beyond weekly amounts, most fostering services reimburse mileage for school runs, contact and appointments; cover equipment (e.g., cots, stair gates, car seats); and provide birthday/festive/holiday contributions. Wandsworth’s allowance scheme also outlines how Family & Friends (connected persons) carers access fees once they complete required training—useful if you’re stepping in for a child you know. Always check the current local scheme for the precise rules and rates.

Training, supervision and 24/7 support in Wandsworth

Wandsworth highlights a straightforward assessment (often 16–20 weeks), placements offered to you before agency carers, a dedicated supervising social worker, and comprehensive training (including “Skills to Foster” plus ongoing CPD). Day to day, you’ll have supervision visits, access to local support groups, and out-of-hours help when you need it.

Quality assurance: Ofsted’s site shows Wandsworth Children’s Services were rated “Good” in 2023, with an improving fostering offer noted across recent inspections. That’s a useful confidence signal for applicants comparing local options.

How Wandsworth compares with agencies

• Matching & stability: As your local authority, Wandsworth gets first call on placements for local children. That can mean steadier matching close to home—good for school and friendships.
• Payments: Some IFAs advertise higher combined weekly totals for specialist or hard-to-match placements. However, check the split between allowance and fee, the level of wraparound support, and what’s guaranteed vs case-by-case. The headline number is only part of the picture.
• Support ecosystem: Consider who attends education meetings, how out-of-hours works, respite availability, and training depth. Consistency in local relationships (schools, health, CAMHS, Virtual School) can be a major advantage of fostering with your council.

Tax relief that helps your take-home

Most foster carers pay little or no income tax on their fostering income thanks to HMRC’s Qualifying Care Relief (QCR). For 2025/26, QCR provides a fixed household amount plus a weekly amount per person you care for. If your total fostering receipts are under that “qualifying amount,” you owe no income tax on them; above it, a simplified method still applies. Always follow HMRC’s latest helpsheet or take professional advice when you file a self-assessment.

What it’s like day-to-day (and how Wandsworth supports you)

Education & routines. You’ll link in with the Virtual School to keep schooling on track, and you’ll be supported to create routines around homework, bedtime and friendships. Good recording and open communication with your supervising social worker help everyone stay aligned.

Health & wellbeing. You’ll arrange initial health assessments, dental checks and vaccinations quickly after a placement. If a child needs mental health support, your social worker can guide referrals and alternatives where CAMHS waiting times are long—Wandsworth teams can advise on counselling or creative therapies to bridge gaps.

Contact with family. Plans can be supervised, supported or virtual depending on court directions. You’ll be shown how to record contact neutrally and safely, and how to flag concerns swiftly so plans can be adjusted.

Safer caring & allegations. You’ll create a safer caring policy for your household—covering visitors, bathrooms, devices/phones and de-escalation. Wandsworth will explain how allegations are handled and where to get independent support if one arises; knowing the process in advance makes it less daunting.

Digital life & phones. Expect guidance on parental controls, age-appropriate apps, and gaming boundaries that slot into your safer-caring plan—plus what to record and when to inform school or your social worker.

Who can apply—and how long it takes

Wandsworth welcomes single applicants, couples, homeowners and renters, and people who work (some placements can fit around part-time roles). You’ll need a spare bedroom, undergo DBS/medical checks and a Form F assessment with training. The council signposts a typical timeline of 16–20 weeks from enquiry to panel for many applicants.

Three quick budgeting examples (illustrative)

These are examples to show how pieces fit together. Your actual package will depend on the child’s needs, your skills/experience, and the latest local scheme.

1. Primary-age placement (age 8) – standard needs
   • Baseline London NMA (5–10): £225/week (2025/26)
   • Wandsworth example: fee + allowance published total roughly £404/week for 0–10 as an indication; your exact figure depends on the current scheme and child profile.
   • Plus typical mileage and occasional equipment claims where relevant.
2. Teen placement (age 14) – moderate additional needs
   • Baseline London NMA (11–15): £257/week (2025/26)
   • Enhanced fee may apply given needs; Wandsworth’s 11–18 headline example totals ~£501/week before extras.
3. Sibling group (10 & 12)
   • Baselines combine (5–10 + 11–15). Many councils add enhanced fees for sibling groups to support stability. Ask Wandsworth for the sibling supplement/fee structure when you enquire.

Remember: QCR often means no tax is due on these receipts (or a reduced amount), depending on your household’s qualifying figure and placement mix.

Why many carers choose to foster with their council

• First call on local placements. Children from Wandsworth are matched locally where possible—better for schooling and friendships.
• Integrated support. Social work, education, and health teams are connected; you’re not navigating services alone.
• Transparent payments. Council schemes are published and regularly reviewed, including how connected-persons (Family & Friends) carers move onto fees after required training.
• Quality oversight. Ofsted monitoring and public reporting add accountability across the service.

How to start your application (and what to ask)

1. Make an enquiry via Wandsworth’s fostering pages and book a call-back or information session. Ask about current priority placement needs (teens, siblings, parent & child) so your training focuses on local demand.
2. Request a written breakdown of the allowance, fee and extras relevant to the age range you’re open to—plus mileage rates, respite, birthday/holiday amounts, and any enhanced fees for higher-needs or sibling placements.
3. Clarify training and support: how quickly you can do Skills to Foster, what ongoing CPD looks like, and what happens out of hours.
4. Understand timescales: what could speed up or slow down your DBS, medicals, references and home checks; when panel dates are available; and how soon matching begins after approval.
5. Ask about kinship/connected persons if you’re caring for a child you know. Confirm how and when connected-persons carers access the full allowance and fee once training is completed.

Bottom line

• The 2025/26 London minimum sets a solid baseline (£198–£299/week by age), but Wandsworth’s total packages add a weekly fee on top—advertised examples sit around £404/week (0–10) and £501/week (11–18) before extras and enhancements.
• You’ll get structured training, a named supervising social worker, out-of-hours help, and priority access to local placements, backed by a service Ofsted reports as improving and “Good” overall.
• With Qualifying Care Relief, many carers pay no income tax on fostering receipts—vital for accurate take-home planning.