Southampton City Council Fostering Service allowances and skills level fees
From August 2024
Weekly allowance
Foster carers are not employed, but receive a Child Maintenance Allowance (Weekly Allowance) to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for a child or young person, such as clothing, food, some travel, leisure activities and contribution towards the general household costs – gas, electricity, water etc. Foster carers are also able to claim other expenses for the child or young person, which will be explained during the assessment process.
All Southampton City Council approved foster carers begin their fostering journey receiving the Weekly Allowance per foster child in placement, dependent on the age of the child and the Level 1 allowance (further details below).
There is an expectation that foster carers put aside savings each week for the child as detailed below.
| Age | Child Maintenance Allowance (Weekly Allowance) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | £183 minus £5 for savings |
| 3 – 4 years | £189 minus £5 for savings |
| 5 - 10 years | £208 minus £5 for savings |
| 11 - 15 years | £238 minus £10 for savings |
| 16+ years | £279.21 minus £10 for savings |
Skills Level Scheme
About the scheme
Our Skills Level scheme is a financial renumeration scheme based on approved foster carers having the opportunity to enhance their skills through gaining extra fostering experience and knowledge. There are certain expectations which need to be met to reach these levels and this can be achieved thought relevant and on-going training and providing care to children and young people with more complex needs. There is a skills self-assessment that carers need to complete to evidence the criteria at each level.
Under the Skills Level Scheme, you will receive either Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 payments and the Weekly Allowance (dependant on the age of the child, as per the table above).
NB - The Weekly Allowance and Skills Level Fees are only paid when children are in placement.
Level 1
In addition to the Weekly Allowance in the table above, newly approved Level 1 foster carers will receive:
- A Skills Level Fee of £120 – this is payable for each child in placement and is paid weekly
Level 2
In addition to the Weekly Allowance in the table above, Level 2 foster carers will receive:
- A Skills Level Fee of £240 – this is payable for each child in placement and is paid weekly
Level 3
In addition to the Weekly Allowance in the table above, Level 3 foster carers will receive:
- A Skills Level Fee of £350 – this is payable for each child in placement and is paid weekly
Parent and child
The carer/s will a receive a fee for providing a placement for a parent/s and their child. This is inclusive of a Maintenance Allowance and Skills Fee. This amount can vary depending on the parent’s ability to financially support themselves.
Parent and Child foster carers will receive:
- A Parent and Child placement Fee of up to £941. This is paid weekly.
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2 x [Level 2 Placement Allowance] = 2 x £240 | £480 |
| + 1 x [16 - 17 year old maintenance for parent] | £278 |
| + 1x [0 - 2 year old maintenance for baby] | £183 |
| Total Weekly Payment | £941 |
Respite
Respite foster carers receive the equivalent of the Weekly Allowance per night of stay. They will also receive the equivalent Skills Level Fee that they are assessed at.
Emergency Placements
A one-off payment of £100 will be made for emergency placements. This payment is in recognition that in some cases, when children and young people are placed in an emergency, there are likely to be additional costs incurred up front. This payment is not per child.
Emergency placements are defined as being placements happening on the same day the foster carer is approached by the Placements Team about the child or children and agrees to take the placement, or whereby a foster carer takes a placement via the Emergency Duty Team; out of usual office hours, over a weekend or on a bank holiday.
Emergency payments are not applicable for day care or where the child is being placed for a short period of respite care.
Day Care
£10 per hour, maximum of 10 hours per day.
Holiday Allowance
The Summer Holiday Allowance is set at twice the weekly, age-related Child Maintenance Allowance and is available for all carers.
| Age | Holiday Allowance based on 2024/2025 maintenance fees, from 1st July |
|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | £366 |
| 3 – 4 years | £378 |
| 5 – 10 years | £416 |
| 11 – 15 years | £476 |
| 16+ years | £558.42 |
Birthday Allowance
The Birthday Allowance is equal to one week’s Child Maintenance Allowance according to the age of the child.
| Age | Birthday Allowance based on 2024/2025 Maintenance Fees, from 1st July |
|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | £183 |
| 3 – 4 years | £189 |
| 5 – 10 years | £208 |
| 11 – 15 years | £238 |
| 16+ years | £279.21 |
Festivities Allowance
The Festivities Allowance is equal to one week’s Child Maintenance Allowance according to the age of the child.
| Age | Christmas / Festivities Allowance based on 2024/2025 Maintenance Fees, from 1st July |
|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | £183 |
| 3 – 4 years | £189 |
| 5 – 10 years | £208 |
| 11 – 15 years | £238 |
| 16+ years | £279.21 |
Young People Age 18
Fostering allowances (both the Weekly Allowance and the Skills Level/Professional Fee) cease when a young person reaches 18 years of age or is no longer looked after by the Local Authority. However, under the Care Leaver’s legislation, it may be possible for some Staying Put payments to be paid until the young person reaches 21 years, or 24 years if education is continuing, under the Staying Put scheme.
Tax arrangements
Foster carers should register as self-employed with HM Revenue and Customs. Find out more about tax arrangements.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about fostering allowances or would like to talk to someone about fostering with Southampton City Council, please call us on 0800 5 191818 or email fostering@southampton.gov.uk.
