Whilst our foster carers’ main motivation is making a difference to the lives of the children in our care, they naturally still need to consider finances.
Every Foster Portsmouth foster carer receives a competitive fostering allowance for each child or young person in their care. The amount varies depending on the age of the child and is paid weekly, but is from £203 a week for under 4s up to £298 a week for over 16s.
The allowance covers costs such as food, travel, clothing, incidentals such as pocket money, gifts, hobbies and clubs, and a contribution towards housing costs and other household expenses associated with day-to-day living.
Foster carers also receive set allowances to cover additional costs whilst they are caring for a child such as those associated with birthdays, Christmas or other significant religious festival. In addition, they receive an activity allowance to cover school breaks and a holiday allowance for the child/ren in their care.
Foster carers can claim certain travel and expenses when transporting the foster child and attending meetings or training, and certain exceptional payments could also be made available if applicable.
Our carers also benefit from a skills fee depending on their skills and experience of up to £353 for a Level 3 carer per child, per week. Carers with professional childcare experience or who are already an experienced foster carer with the skills and availability to care for young people with additional or more complex needs, will receive highly competitive level 2 or level 3 skill payments.
In most cases if your experience has been gained through looking after your own children, or the children of family and friends, you will receive a level 1 skills fee. However you will have the opportunity through fostering and training to gain the skills and experience to progress to a higher skill level. This will be discussed with you during your assessment to become a foster carer.
Foster carers also benefit from tax relief and exemptions, as well as support with necessary equipment such as cots or prams, access to some Portsmouth City Council staff benefits, regular activities, discounts from schemes such as the Portsmouth Leisure Card, and free membership to The Fostering Network and all of the further support and benefits that come with it.
