What you can earn

We know foster carers are not motivated by finances, but we all have living costs. We value the role our foster carers take on and you will receive competitive rates with plenty of added benefits.

Foster carers with Essex County Council receive a competitive weekly fee plus allowance for each child in their care.

On average, a foster carer earns around £537.12 per week, based on caring for one 11-15 year old child. We have explained foster care finances below and our fees for 2024/2025 are summarised here.

What is an allowance?

In addition to a weekly fee, you will also be paid a weekly allowance for the child’s food, clothes and any activities they take part in. Just like the fees, the allowance you receive depends on the child’s age and is also paid per child.

Essex County Council's allowances are:

• £188.37 for children aged 0 - 2
• this is £23.37 more than Department for Education (DFE)'s recommended minimum
• £188.37 for children aged 3 - 4
• this is £18.37 more than DFE's recommended minimum
• £214.69 for children aged 5 - 10
• this is £27.69 more than DFE's recommended minimum
• £267.12 for children aged 11 - 15
• this is £54.12 more than DFE's recommended minimum
• £284.20 for children aged 16+
• this is £35.20 more than DFE's recommended minimum

Most foster carers do not pay tax on their fostering income

Foster carers receive additional tax-free allowances, making the majority of their pay tax-free. This means compared to a private sector job with the same income, our foster carers have a greater ‘take home’ pay each month.

You may also be exempt from tax on a proportion of your non-fostering income. For more information on tax, see the government’s Help with cost of fostering section or The Fostering Network’s Tax FAQs. 

In addition to weekly fees and allowances, Essex County Council's foster carers also receive: 

• a retention fee – you will still be paid for up to 28 days between a child leaving your care and another child coming into your care, if you’re not caring for any other foster children
• additional payments for birthdays and Christmas
• a summer payment towards holidays and days out
• additional expenses for mileage (to training meetings, out of catchment school drop-offs)
• any specialist equipment the child needs

Essex County Council’s fees for foster carers 2024/2025

What is a weekly fee for foster carers?

A weekly fee is paid to the foster carer for their time and lifestyle changes. You are not expected to spend this fee on the children in your care. How much you earn per week depends on the type of foster care provided and the age of the child in your care. If you foster siblings or more than one child at a time, you will receive a fee per child.

Our fees for 2024/2025 are summarised here and below, based on the type of foster care you provide. The fees below are valid from Monday 1 April 2024.

What foster carers earn

Mainstream fostering

Mainstream fostering involves caring for a child (0 to 18 years old) and providing stability. Full-time and part-time options are available:

• respite fostering 
• short-term fostering
• long-term fostering 

What do mainstream foster carers earn?

• £220 fee (plus allowance) per week, per child for children aged 0 -10
• £270 fee (plus allowance) per week, per child for children aged 11 – 18

Specialist fostering fees apply when a child needs further support

All children in care have experienced neglect, foster carers give them the time and safety they need to overcome this. For example if they have complex medical needs for their physical or mental health, or they are unable to attend mainstream education.  

• £270 fee (plus allowance) per week, per child for children aged 0 – 10
• £380 fee (plus allowance) per week, per child for a child of any age who:
  • can’t be placed with other children
  • had already had multiple placements breakdown
  • is leaving residential care
  • needs their foster carer to be available during school hours

Respite foster care

Respite foster care involves looking after a child until a permanent care plan is made. This can be for a few days, or a few weeks at a time. For part-time respite care, you be paid the appropriate fees and allowance pro-rata, for the time a child is in your care.

Often, respite foster carers continue working. Also, respite care is an opportunity to learn more about which style of care you would like to specialise in, like our foster carers Jenn and Hayley did.

Fostering a child with disabilities

Fostering a child with disabilities will help shape their life, you can make a real difference. Depending on the type of fostering you choose, you can also work full-time in another job. Our inspirational foster carer Laura offers short break fostering alongside her role as a specialist nurse in a hospital.

Fostering for a child with disabilities offers competitive fees, compared to other roles in healthcare. A short breaks foster carer can earn up to £1317.12 a week, based on caring for an 11 - 15 year old for five nights.

There are three main types of care for children with disabilities:

1. short-term and long-term fostering
2. short breaks
3. fee-paid short breaks

1. Short-term and long-term fostering

• £550 (plus allowance), per week per child for a child of any age with a diagnosed disability, who is receiving support from our children with disabilities team
• £1090 (plus allowance) per week per child of any age with a diagnosed disability, who needs a high level of two-parent care, or through the night care

2. Short breaks for children with disabilities

Short breaks offer the children’s (0 to 18 years-old) primary caregivers a break from their daily routines. Short breaks are flexible, you can care for the child from just one weekend a month.

• £12.91 per hour (between 7am and 7pm while caring for a child) and £100 overnight rate

3. Fee paid short breaks for children with disabilities

This involves caring for individual children (0 to 18 years-old) with more complex needs. This can be up to five nights a week and a part-time option (three nights a week) is available too.

You will receive:

• a weekly fee (this is competitive with most health and social care roles)
• an allowance
• an overnight fee (paid per night)

These fees reflect the level of skill required. You will be paid from the point of approval, plus, you will continue to receive a fee even while you don’t have a child placed with you.

How much do short breaks carers earn?

• £550 + £100 overnight fee (5 nights)
• £440 + £100 overnight fee (4 nights)
• £330 + £100 overnight fee (3 nights)

Emergency bed scheme and PACE

Also, as a foster carer, you can join the rota for the Emergency Bed and PACE Scheme which is where you provide care for a child or young person out of hours, supporting them in an emergency or to prevent them remaining in police custody. 

• £250 per week duty payment plus allowance and fee (when a child is placed) for being on the PACE Bed Scheme rota
• £350 per week duty payment, plus allowance and fee (when a child is placed) for being on the Emergency Bed Scheme rota

Parent and child fostering

You can also earn more for offering your home to a parent and child.

• £550 fee (plus allowance x2) if both parent and child are under 18
• if the parent is over 18, the allowance depends on the parents benefit entitlement

Contact us

Please reach out to us if you have any questions, or would like to start your journey as a foster carer with Essex County Council. You’re not committing to anything; you’re just having a chat to learn more. 

Call 0800 801 530 or email fosterrecruitment@essex.gov.uk