Foster carer payments and support

There will be lots of support available to you when you choose to become a foster carer with us.

This includes:

• a qualified social worker from our specialist team offering you regular support
• our out-of-hours telephone line that offers advice and support at evenings and weekends
• a dedicated duty team that offers an out-of-hours response if there's an emergency
• automatic membership of The Fostering Network – a national charity that gives free impartial advice to foster carers
• access to a foster carers' committee, which is run by foster carers for foster carers
• advice and support via our a 'buddy' system, will pairs you with an experienced carer
• a nurse who can give specialist advice on health issues for looked after children
• a training coordinator who will make sure you have the fostering skills you need
• a weekly allowance, dependent on the age of the child, and a weekly reward payment when you have a child in placement
• additional grants and allowances that you can use to help with furniture, bedding, other basic requirements and special times of the year such as birthdays – these payments do not affect benefits or tax allowances

As a foster carer in Thurrock, you won't have to manage alone.