Lancashire

As a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation, Lancashire County Council have a commitment to the children and young people in our community in care, to provide them with the best start we can.

We couldn’t do this without people like you, offering to share your homes and families.

We really value everything our foster carers do.

We have put together a competitive package to ensure you are provided with everything you need.

This means you can focus on the children’s and young people’s needs.

What we offer you as a foster carer

Payments and allowances

• Competitive foster care allowance - based on a number of factors, such as, the amount of time you dedicate to fostering, the number of children you have and your experience. Newly approved foster carers can now expect to receive between £424.96 and £558.55, per child they look after
• Child maintenance allowance - covering the costs of everything that you need to care for a child such as food, clothing, transport, personal items and household expenses
• Introduction payment - to show our thanks for choosing Lancashire County Council and to support you at the start of your fostering journey we also pay a one-off incentive payment of £1,215.26 to all new, mainstream foster carers after they have fostered the children for a period of two months
• Payment for brothers and sisters moving in together at the same time. When brothers and sisters of 3 or more children are matched and move into a fostering family, foster carers will receive an additional incentive of a one off £1214.78 payment, after they have fostered the children for a period of two months
• Tax relief - as a foster carer you'll be entitled to tax relief on your income from fostering, meaning you'll pay very little (or no) tax and national insurance
• Petrol expenses - your mileage can be covered for certain trips you have to take
• Discounts for local services through Vivup. Foster carers are also eligible for a Blue Light Card which you can apply for directly upon approval
• Refer a friend bonus – we offer a referral payment of £1,651.50 to any Lancashire foster carer who recommends someone who goes on to become a mainstream foster carer. The reward is paid to the referrer after approval once the new foster carers have fostered a child for 2 months
• Transfer promise - if you transfer to us from an independent fostering agency and you are already caring for a Lancashire child at the point of transfer, we will match your current payment until the child is 18 or leaves your care

Support 

• 24/7 support
• Access to our Fostering Mentoring Academy - you will be provided with your own dedicated, experienced foster carer, alongside access to further resources, training and support
• Access to regular support groups and social events
• A dedicated supervising Social Worker
• An out of hour's duty service for emergency issues outside of standard office hours
• Access to our Rising Stars programme - developed to recognise the importance of your own children when fostering as a family and to support them at every stage
• Access to SCAYT+, our team of emotional health workers, social workers, and clinical psychologists. There to support carers, parents, and professionals by providing advice about parenting, child behaviour and development, serious emotional, behavioural and relationship problems, past abuse, trauma and neglect
• Local support for you in your area
• The opportunity to become part of one of our Mockingbird Constellations

Training and development 

There is a wide variety of high quality training available to prospective and experienced carers, some is mandatory, whilst other courses can be tailored to your specific needs:

• Skills to Foster - a course that introduces fostering and all it entails
• Supporting Stars training for your own children, so they know what to expect when you become foster carers
• Self-guided training - a range of courses online that you can complete at a time that suits you
• Online training - online group sessions, covering a range of different topics
• In-person training - covering a wide range of topics, available at different dates in various locations across the region

Read more about training and support

Why foster with your local council?

Help local children

Help to keep children in Lancashire - we try to keep children close to their friends, family and schools to maintain their familiar links. We strive to keep all Lancashire children living within Lancashire.

Priority arrangements

You will be approached first for any children needing a home (within your approved age range)

Matching choice

Our dedicated ‘Family Finding’ team specialises in matching children to your family, helping to make the transition into fostering a smooth one for your family. Fostering with your local council means that you will not experience long periods of time without a child, unless you choose to have a break.

We have lots of different types of fostering, so you can work with our teams to decide which type of fostering arrangement will suit you and your family best.

Non-profit organisation

As a non-profit making organisation - money goes to providing the best service for the children.

Communities 

Our fostering communities scheme creates small foster carer communities led by a local foster carer co-ordinator within local areas to offer peer support, informal babysitting and fostering expertise

Become part of Lancashire’s biggest family - you’ll be amazed at just how many Lancashire foster carers live near you.