If you choose to become a foster carer, will you get the help and support you need – and will you get paid?

There are lots of reasons people choose to become foster carers (and particularly foster carers with their local council). It’s a chance to help young children who need your help – and to keep them local. 

If you’re brilliant with kids, fostering is a way of ensuring your skills as a carer can benefit lots of young people. And fostering can be a fresh start in life – one that’s as rewarding for you as the young people in your care.

All of this may be true, but it’s important to approach fostering with your eyes wide open. That means knowing you’ll be able to afford to foster and understanding the support that’s available to help you.

That’s what this post is about.

How much do foster carers in Greater Manchester get paid?

We’ve yet to meet the foster carers who are only ‘in it for the money’. Even so, money matters – especially if you have to buy a bigger car or reduce your working hours to manage your fostering. You can expect to receive a fostering allowance for the children in your care. You may also get a top-up, depending on some of the factors we explore below.

The fostering allowance is designed to cover your expenses as a carer. The Government sets a minimum which varies depending on the age of the child. As of December 2024, the minimums per week for Greater Manchester are:

Extra financial benefits 

There are lots of ways to increase the amount you receive for fostering. More experienced foster carers may receive a top up and it’s good to know that, if you choose to keep fostering, there’ll be a bit of a financial reward for building that experience. Caring for more than one child will increase your payments. And you may receive additional payments if you foster children with complex needs or if you take extra training that enables you to foster a broader range of children.

Every foster carer will also receive additional payments for things like birthdays, school uniforms and religious festivals (like Christmas, Eid or Hanukkah).

Remember, there are special tax arrangements for foster carers too, so you may not pay much (or any) tax on the amount you receive, depending on your other income.

Other rewards

Despite the inevitable importance of money, many foster carers tell us that it’s the other rewards they get from fostering that make the real difference. It’s the chance to learn new skills. The opportunity to enjoy time together as a family  with the help of leisure passes and free/subsidised opportunities.

Perhaps most of all, it’s the chance to make a difference – and to make a positive impact in the community – that is the real reward of fostering.

Can you work and foster at the same time?

Yes. Lots of foster carers do. You don’t have to give up work. You don’t have to go part time, although plenty of carers do. Providing you are able to deliver the foster care expected, there’s nothing to stop you (or both partners in a two-adult household) from working, although bear in mind any additional money you earn will affect the tax you pay.

Find out more about getting paid as a foster carer in Greater Manchester

What support do foster carers in Greater Manchester get?

‘Can we afford to foster?’ is one of the most common questions we hear. But ‘Will we get help to foster?’ is another.

It’s important that foster carers feel that they’re not alone. Fostering can be an incredible experience. But it can also be demanding, and the full-on nature of fostering is easier to handle when you a) have the skills you need and b) have the people around you to help you cope.

For inexperienced foster carers it’s vital that they feel they have a way to build their skills, and that they have a safety net to ask questions and get advice when they need it. Foster with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the support you receive will come via four routes:

1. Skills to foster: Before you are approved as a foster carer with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, you’ll need to complete the ‘Skills to Foster’ course, which will help you prepare for the fostering role.
2. Social worker support: Once you’re approved as a foster carer, you’ll be assigned a social worker. The social worker will visit you regularly and offer advice and support. They’ll also be the ‘hub’ of your foster child’s support work, connecting you with their school, health professionals and others.
3. Training: As an approved foster carer, you’ll still need to complete some core training on essentials like behaviour management and first aid. They can make a big difference in giving you the skills and confidence to manage a wider range of needs.
4. Mockingbird: There’s nothing like the support that comes from people who know exactly what fostering feels like. Mockingbird creates hubs of foster carers who can help each other with things like short breaks and baby-sitting, peer support, regular joint planning and social activities.

 Find out more about the support you’ll get as a foster carer in Greater Manchester

How could becoming a foster carer change your life?

Want to see what foster carers feel about fostering? Explore our real fostering stories – Trish and Steve’s experience is a great one to start with.

Then, to explore your fostering options, get in touch here.