Fostering in Richmond upon Thames: Allowances, Agencies and How to Apply

Thinking about fostering in Richmond upon Thames? You’re in a great place to start. Richmond’s children’s services are delivered by Achieving for Children (AfC), the not-for-profit community interest company that also serves Kingston upon Thames (and supports wider regional work). AfC runs local recruitment, training and support for foster carers, and partners with schools, health and social care to keep placements stable and children thriving.

This guide breaks down what allowances look like in and around Richmond, the agencies you can foster with, and the exact steps to apply—plus practical tips to help you decide if fostering fits your home and lifestyle.

Fostering allowances in Richmond upon Thames (what to expect)

All councils and agencies in England must pay at least the national minimum fostering allowance, which is reviewed annually each April. For 2025/26 the UK Government confirmed a 3.55% uplift to the national minimum rates in England. Local services (like AfC) can and often do top up these minimums based on the child’s age, needs and the cost of living in their area.

AfC’s public guidance explains how weekly allowances work and gives a London example banding by age (you’ll see figures for early years through to 16–17). Keep in mind that what you actually receive depends on the placement and any AfC policy updates—so always check the current “Fees and Allowances” page before you apply or accept a match.

A few key points to understand about money and support:

• Allowance vs. fee: The allowance is to cover the child’s living costs (food, clothing, travel, activities). An additional carer fee (sometimes called a “skill level” or “professional” fee) may be paid depending on experience, training and the complexity of the placement. Local policies set how this is structured.
• Extras you can claim: Expect guidance on birthdays, religious festivals, holidays, school trips, equipment and mileage. Short-break (respite) carers are usually paid pro-rata. Keep receipts/logs for easy claiming and evidence.
• After 18 (Staying Put): Fostering ends at 18, but many young people remain with their carers under Staying Put arrangements, which are funded differently and aren’t covered by a national minimum “fostering” allowance. Your local team will confirm what support applies at 18+.

If you’re comparing local authority fostering with independent fostering agencies (IFAs), remember that the allowance/fee structure can look different on paper. Always compare the whole support package (supervision, training, respite, out-of-hours help, education/therapeutic input), not just the headline weekly figure.

Who you can foster with in Richmond (agencies and how they differ)

You’ll normally choose between:

1. Achieving for Children (the local authority service)
   AfC recruits, approves and supports foster carers for Richmond and Kingston. Benefits include a tight link with local schools (Virtual School), health and social care teams, clear routes to specialist training (e.g., therapeutic parenting, PACE), and placements that are local to you wherever possible. AfC provides a transparent assessment and training path and lists its payments and policies publicly.

AfC (as a fostering provider) is inspected by Ofsted. Richmond’s children’s services overall were inspected in June 2025 and published in August 2025; AfC and the council celebrated an ‘Outstanding’ judgement for children’s services in Richmond. You can read Ofsted’s reports online to see the strengths inspectors highlighted and how the service is improving practice.

2. Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)
   IFAs are licensed providers that work across wider regions (West London, Surrey and the South East). Some offer specialist schemes (therapeutic, parent & child, sibling groups, UASC) and may advertise higher weekly packages, but matching can be across a broader geography and you’ll be supported by the IFA’s supervising social worker rather than a council team. Quality varies, so check Ofsted reports and ask about education support, therapy pathways, respite and 24/7 help before you choose.

Tip for choosing: Take a notebook to information events. Ask each provider about:

• Out-of-hours support (how fast, who answers, escalation).
• Training (pre-approval “Skills to Foster”, ongoing CPD, specialist courses).
• Matching (how referrals arrive, how much information you receive, saying “no” safely).
• Respite and wellbeing (burnout prevention, peer support groups like Mockingbird if available).
• Finance clarity (what’s allowance vs. fee, what’s reimbursable, when payments arrive).

How to apply to foster in Richmond: step-by-step

The fostering assessment is rightly thorough, but it’s also well-signposted so you know what’s coming. AfC describes the process clearly and welcomes initial calls for a friendly chat. Here’s how it typically works:

1) Make an enquiry

Start with a quick conversation with AfC. They’ll talk through your situation (home, work, household members, motivation) and explain routes like short-term, long-term, respite, therapeutic or parent-and-child. AfC publishes a direct phone number for initial discussions and a page dedicated to the “Fostering application and assessment process.”

2) Initial visit and eligibility checks

If fostering sounds like a fit, AfC will arrange a home visit to talk in more detail and check space/safety (spare room, pets, access). You’ll discuss lifestyle, support network, and which age range or needs you feel most confident with. Expect guidance on bedroom sharing rules, safer caring and how contact with birth family works.

3) Formal application and “Stage 1” checks

You’ll complete forms and consent to DBS, medical, references, and a look at finances and previous caring roles. AfC will confirm training dates for Skills to Foster and give you a timeline for next steps.

4) “Stage 2” – the Form F assessment

A qualified assessing social worker will visit you several times to complete the Form F (your fostering assessment). This explores your background, parenting style, resilience, safeguarding awareness and support network. You’ll also work on a Safer Caring Policy tailored to your home.

5) Panel and approval

When Form F is finished, you’ll meet an independent fostering panel who read your assessment, ask questions and make a recommendation. The agency’s decision maker then confirms approval, often for a specific age range and number of children (and sometimes for specialist schemes).

6) Matching and first placement

After approval, your supervising social worker shares placement referrals and helps you decide when to say yes—and when to wait for a better match. You’ll learn how to read referrals quickly, what to ask (education, health, contact, risks), and how allowances/fees apply to that specific placement.

What AfC offers foster carers (support that matters)

Local services succeed when carers feel supported. AfC’s fostering pages outline a package that usually includes:

• A dedicated supervising social worker and regular supervision visits.
• Training before approval (e.g., Skills to Foster) and ongoing CPD (therapeutic parenting, de-escalation, recording).
• Peer support groups/networks; guidance and resources (handbooks, policy library).
• Financial policies that set out allowances, fees and extras clearly.
• Links to the Virtual School to support education and Pupil Premium Plus spend.

You can read AfC’s resource hub (policies, carers’ handbook, education info) to see how day-to-day practice and support are structured. It’s a useful way to compare providers on more than just the weekly pay.

Who can foster in Richmond? (common questions)

• Do I need a spare room? Yes, for most placements the child needs their own bedroom. There are limited exceptions (e.g., some sibling arrangements), but you’ll discuss what’s safe and appropriate with the assessor.
• Can I rent? Yes—many foster carers rent. You’ll just need landlord consent and a home that passes safety checks.
• Is there an upper age limit? No formal upper limit; the key is your health, energy and support network. A medical forms part of the assessment.
• Can I work? Many carers work, but availability around school hours/contact is often essential. The assessor will explore what’s realistic.
• What about allegations? Every provider has a clear process, and you’ll be supported by your supervising social worker. Good daily recording and a robust safer caring plan really help.

Practical tips for a strong application

1. Start a “readiness” file now. Include a rough safer caring plan, a home safety checklist, and notes on your support network (who can help with school runs, emergencies, respite). This shows preparation when your assessor visits.
2. Attend an information session with AfC and (if you wish) one IFA, then compare: out-of-hours support, training depth, respite, and education support. Ask each provider to explain a realistic weekly package for a typical Richmond placement (after the 2025/26 uplift).
3. Understand education support. Richmond’s services work closely with the Virtual School; ask how Pupil Premium Plus funding is used in practice and how your supervising social worker will help with PEPs, attendance and exclusions if things wobble.
4. Think about placement type. Short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, parent & child and therapeutic fostering all demand different routines and availability. If you’re open to older children or sibling groups, tell the team—that flexibility can lead to a faster, better match.
5. Plan recordings from day one. Good daily logs (factual, concise, child-centred) will support education, health, and—if needed—court processes later. Ask what digital system your provider uses and how photos/documents are stored safely.

The local picture: performance and demand

Why foster here? Richmond’s children’s services had an Ofsted inspection in June 2025, published August 2025, which the council reported as ‘Outstanding’—a strong signal about leadership, social work practice and support to carers. That said, like the rest of England, services still need more households with a spare room and the resilience to care for children with complex needs. Your application really does make a difference locally.

Next steps (and who to contact)

• Read AfC’s fostering pages to explore the role, training, and the assessment timeline in detail, and to see current fees and allowances policies.
• Make an initial enquiry for a no-pressure chat about your home, availability and the types of fostering that might suit you best (AfC publishes a dedicated contact route for fostering enquiries).
• Check Ofsted reports for transparency about performance and improvements. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask a provider how they’ve responded to recent inspection feedback.

Final word

Fostering in Richmond upon Thames blends high-quality local support with the satisfaction of making a tangible difference to children’s lives close to home. If you have a spare room, patience, and a strong support network, you’ll find AfC’s training and supervision set you up to succeed—and the local education and health links help you keep progress on track. Start with a conversation, read the latest fees/allowances information, and take it one step at a time. You might be surprised how ready you already are.