How much do emergency foster carers get paid?

Emergency foster carers are usually paid an agreed fostering allowance for each placement, with some fostering services also paying a separate fee for the carer’s time, skills and responsibility. The exact amount depends on the service, the child’s circumstances and the terms of the placement, so the current payment schedule is the only reliable way to establish what a particular emergency placement will pay.

Emergency fostering means providing care at short notice, often before a longer-term plan has been agreed for the child. The payment should therefore be explained before the placement begins wherever circumstances allow. If a placement is arranged urgently, ask the supervising social worker or fostering service to confirm the financial terms as soon as possible.

What can make up the payment?

• Child-related allowance: this is intended to contribute towards everyday costs such as food, clothing, personal items, activities, travel and household expenses arising from the placement.
• Carer fee: some services provide an additional professional fee. This may reflect the carer’s approval, experience, training or the level of responsibility involved.
• Additional payments: a service may have separate arrangements for particular equipment, activities, travel or assessed needs. These are not automatically included, so check what must be agreed in advance.

An emergency placement does not automatically attract a higher payment than a planned placement. Some services use a different rate or arrangement for emergency work, while others apply their ordinary fostering structure. The length of notice, the child’s age, the number of children placed, the level of care required and any specialist skills needed may all affect the agreed amount.

It is also important to distinguish between money intended for the child and money paid for the carer’s work. The allowance is there to meet the child’s needs and should be managed accordingly. A separate fee, where offered, is payment connected with the fostering role. The fostering service should explain how its own figures are divided and what each part is designed to cover.

Questions to ask before accepting an emergency placement

• What is the total payment for this placement?
• How much is the child-related allowance and how much, if any, is the carer fee?
• Is the amount calculated per child, per night, per week or using another method?
• Are there separate payments for approved expenses, travel, equipment or activities?
• Could the payment change if the placement extends or the child’s needs are reassessed?
• What records or receipts are required for additional costs?
• Who should be contacted if an agreed expense or payment is unclear?

Ask for these arrangements in writing, including the date the payment starts, the circumstances in which it may be reviewed and any conditions attached to additional expenses. Keep the placement agreement, payment schedule, receipts and relevant correspondence together. Clear records help distinguish ordinary fostering costs from separately authorised expenditure.

Before approval, prospective carers should receive information about the fostering service’s payment structure as part of the assessment and preparation process. Training and discussions with the fostering team should cover the financial responsibilities of fostering, including budgeting for a child’s needs and understanding which costs are included in the allowance. If the proposed terms are not clear, ask for an explanation before agreeing to a placement.

The most accurate answer for an individual emergency placement will always come from the fostering service making the arrangement. Rates and payment policies can be revised, and the amount offered to one carer or for one child may not apply to another placement.