Fostering with Waltham Forest

Fostering with your local council

foster carer holding one foster child with another foster child in front of them trying out home made biscuits

When you foster with Waltham Forest Council, you can support a child from your local community while receiving guidance from a team that understands the borough and its families.

Children benefit from maintaining safe and important relationships. Where possible, local authority fostering can help them remain close to the schools, people and places they know, supporting a sense of continuity and belonging.

Through Local Community Fostering, Waltham Forest works in partnership with Havering, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets. The four councils share experience, training and resources, while foster carers remain connected to their local fostering service and community.

As a Waltham Forest foster carer, you’ll become an important part of the professional network supporting the child, with their needs and progress guiding the support you provide together.

Learn more about fostering with your local council

Benefits and support for foster carers

Fostering requires commitment, patience and care, and Waltham Forest Council recognises the valuable role foster carers play in children’s lives. You’ll be supported by a service that Ofsted has recognised as Outstanding for the experiences and progress of children in care.

Fostering fees and allowances in Waltham Forest

Weekly fostering payments between £370 and £914 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.
A council tax discount of up to 66% for eligible borough residents.
A flat annual council tax payment of £498 available for carers living outside the borough.

Waltham Forest 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, Waltham Forest Council also offers:

Access to the Mockingbird scheme for all foster carers, with multiple constellations offering peer support, shared activities and planned respite.
An extensive year round training programme, including therapeutic parenting approaches, delivered by experienced trainers, flexible learning through an online training platform for carers with work or family commitments.
Use of the Caring Life app to help carers document and reflect on children’s journeys.

Additional benefits for Waltham Forest foster carers

Zoned parking permits for borough residents.
Discounted membership across Waltham Forest leisure centres for carers and their families.
Paid short-break support of up to two weeks per year, supporting carers to rest and recharge.

Transferring to Waltham Forest Council

If you currently foster through an agency or another local authority, you can apply to transfer to Waltham Forest Council. This may appeal if you would like to work directly with local services and foster as part of your local community.

Our team will help you understand the process and support you in communicating with your current fostering service. We’ll carefully consider your circumstances, including the needs of any children placed with you, to support an appropriate and well-managed transition.

If you’d like an informal conversation before deciding what to do, complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you to answer your questions and explain the process

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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