Payments
Our foster carers receive two types of payments:
- a weekly fostering allowance for each child
- a payment for skills (fostering fee)
Child allowance
You will receive a weekly fostering allowance for each child cared for. This money is for food, clothing, transport, personal and household costs. The amounts offered from 1 April 2024 are as follows:
| Age related fostering allowance for the child | Allowance per child per week |
|---|---|
| 0-4 years | £170 |
| 5-10 years | £187 |
| 11-15 years | £231 |
| 16+ years | £282 |
| Staying Put (young people 18-21 years) | £243 |
| Home from Home | £268.24 (£38.32 per day) |
Payment for skills
Payment for skills meets the many needs of children in care in Gateshead. It recognises the need for skilled foster carers and rewards them for the important work they do. Payments depend on skills, knowledge, experience and the type of placement offered.
You can move up or down four payment levels depending on your skills and commitments. Levels three and four demand care of more complex and challenging children. We can talk about which level you would be best suited to. Most of our carers are level one and two but we do have carers on levels three and four.
Payment for skills offers you an opportunity for career progression. You can talk to us about progressing your career in fostering.
| Payment for skills - professional fee | Professional fee per child per week |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | £103.10 |
| Level 2 | £226.82 |
| Level 3 | £309.30 |
| Level 4 | £453.64 |
Other funds are available for:
- special occasions including birthdays, Christmas or religious festivals and school summer holidays
- special holiday payments for children
items available through a child's school including branded uniforms and PE kits items
car mileage or bus fares for school, family time visits, doctors or similar engagements
Tax and National Insurance
As a foster carer, you may have questions about what tax and National Insurance you need to pay. HMRC offer a tax for foster carers online course (opens new window) to guide you through everything you need to know. There are useful tips and practical case studies that you can do at your own pace.
Your story starts here
The first step to becoming a Foster Carer in Gateshead is to fill out our fostering enquiry form. A member of the fostering team will then contact you to gather some further details.