Do foster carers receive weekly pay for respite placements?

Respite foster carers may receive fostering payments for the periods they care for a child, but the amount and calculation depend on the placement agreement. Respite is usually arranged for a defined period, so payment may be calculated by reference to the days or nights the child is placed rather than automatically being the same as a standard full-week payment.

The payment arrangements should be explained before the respite placement begins. They can vary according to:

• the length and dates of the placement;
• whether the placement covers a complete payment week or only part of one;
• the fostering provider’s policy for calculating short-term placements;
• the child’s assessed needs and any agreed additional expenditure; and
• whether the arrangement is made through a fostering service, local authority or another approved placement route.

Some providers use a daily calculation for a short stay, while others set out a specific respite rate or payment arrangement. A payment described as weekly may therefore be recorded differently when the placement begins or ends part-way through the provider’s payment period. The written terms should make clear which dates qualify for payment and how any part-week calculation is made.

Before accepting respite care, ask for confirmation of the following points:

• the fostering allowance or payment agreed for the placement;
• how the amount will be calculated if the child stays for fewer than seven days;
• the payment period and the date on which payment is normally processed;
• which ordinary costs are covered by the allowance;
• whether any approved extra expenses will be paid separately; and
• who to contact if the placement dates change or the payment record is incorrect.

It is also important to distinguish between payment for the care provided and reimbursement for agreed expenses. Food, travel, activities, equipment or other costs may be handled under separate rules, so a respite carer should not assume that every cost is included in the weekly fostering payment. Keep receipts and records where the provider asks for them.

If a respite placement continues beyond the originally agreed dates, the revised arrangement should be confirmed rather than assumed. The provider should explain whether the extension is treated as the same placement, a new placement period or a different payment calculation. This helps prevent confusion about the final amount due.

Anyone considering respite fostering should discuss the payment structure during the assessment and preparation process. A fostering service can explain its allowance policy, the records it provides and the support available for questions about an individual placement. Become A Foster Family supports prospective foster carers across Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands with information about fostering and the practical arrangements involved.