Fostering with Havering

Fostering with your local council

foster carer playing with colours with their foster child

Fostering with Havering Council means opening your home to a child from your local community and helping them feel safe, supported and valued. Throughout your fostering journey, you’ll have the support of professionals who understand local children, families and services.

Whenever it is appropriate, keeping children within or near their local area can allow them to remain connected to their schools, friendships and communities. These relationships can provide valuable familiarity and stability.

Havering is one of four councils working together through Local Community Fostering, alongside Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. The partnership brings together expertise and resources from across the four boroughs while keeping the experience of fostering local.

When you foster with Havering, you’ll work as part of the wider team around the child, with clear support and a shared focus on helping them thrive.

Learn more about fostering with your local council

Benefits and support for foster carers

Havering Council understands that fostering affects the whole household and that carers need reliable support in their day-to-day role. Foster carers therefore have access to clear financial arrangements, practical benefits and therapeutic support for the whole family.

Fostering fees and allowances in Havering

Weekly fostering payments between £400 and £859 per child (foster carer fee and child allowance combined), depending on the age of the child or young person, their needs, and the carer’s training and experience.
100% council tax relief for carers living in the London Borough of Havering.
A £2,000 annual council tax contribution for carers living outside the borough.

Havering support and training

When you foster for your local council, you’re supported by a local team throughout your journey, including:

A dedicated supervising social worker and regular supervision.
Access to out-of-hours support through the Emergency Duty Team (EDT).
Peer support through foster carer groups, foster carer associations and a fostering buddy scheme.
Opportunities to connect with other carers through events held throughout the year.
A Fostering Network membership.

In addition to the support available across Local Community Fostering, Havering Council also offers:

Access to therapeutic support for the whole family, to help carers better understand and meet children’s emotional and developmental needs.
Support for carers and their families in managing transitions and separation when children move on.
An extensive year-round training programme, delivered by experienced trainers, with flexible learning through an online training platform for carers with work or family commitments.

Additional benefits for Havering foster carers

Parking permits for up to two households, allowing free use of Havering council car parks and residents’ bays.
A national Max Card, providing free or discounted entry to attractions across the UK.
Free leisure centre access at Everyone Active centres in Havering.
Complimentary garden waste collection for borough residents.

Transferring to Havering Council

Some experienced foster carers choose to transfer to Havering Council because they want a closer relationship with local services, stronger community connections or the opportunity to foster through the public sector.

If you decide to explore a transfer, our team will support you from your first conversation onwards. We’ll explain what is involved, communicate with your existing fostering service and help ensure your support continues throughout the process.

There is no obligation to proceed after an initial conversation. To discuss transferring and find out whether fostering with Havering could be right for you, complete the form below and we’ll be in touch.

Transferring to local council fostering

To find out about how your Council supports foster carers, click the logos below

We’re the choice for people from all backgrounds—single, coupled up, LGBTQ+, renting, or owning—who want to open their hearts and homes to local children and become part of a loved local community.

Fill out this short form and one of our team will reach out for an open and honest chat. Or feel free to call us on 020 8496 3437 or email hello@localcommunityfostering.gov.uk.

You’re more ready than you think.

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