We enjoy getting to know our foster parents, understanding their family dynamics, existing commitments or caring responsibilities, working with foster parents availability and limitations to find the best fit for everyone involved. We find out about foster parents’ own children and think about how another child in the family might change the dynamic and impact on the children already in the household. We do not treat the birth children or grandchildren of foster parents any differently, they are all welcome to all of our support groups and children’s events and we will access additional services for them as well if needed.Â
We also recognise the value that the wider family of foster parents can bring to children who are looked after, and we encourage their involvement in supporting the care of a child. Where appropriate, we ask foster parents to draw on their support network to assist with childcare and to provide them with a break. When wider family members have regular involvement or provide overnight care, we will complete a brief assessment and undertake a DBS check.
We recognise the life skills of foster parents, which they can share with children to build resilience and respect that they are the experts of the children in their care, whilst balancing that foster parents are often unfamiliar with statutory services and the processes in which children enter the care system. We take time to explain and help manage expectations so foster parents can prepare themselves and their families about what is required. We offer 24 / 7 support, across South Wales, where all foster parents are known to staff and so will have consistent support, both during office hours and out of hours.
FIT provides an annual training calendar offering face to face training, building our fostering community and enabling foster parents to learn from one another. We ensure that core training, such as safeguarding and paediatric first aid training are maintained every three years as required under the fostering regulations.
We facilitate monthly support groups, enabling foster parents to come together, to share experiences, provide encouragement and build a fostering community.
We are flexible, happy to arrange training around foster parents and their commitments. FIT also funds online training with Fostering Network and Association for Fostering Kinship & Adoption (AFKA) Cymru. Â
With FIT, foster parents are expected to complete a minimum of 12 hours training annually, but can draw on different resources, such as television documentaries, reading and online learning to evidence this requirement. Learning and development will regularly be reviewed through supervision and is a condition of continued approval as a registered foster parent.
Balancing work alongside fostering can be difficult, particularly when managing health needs, school attendance, family time arrangements and all other appointments. Whilst fostering is not guarenteed paid employment, fostering should be affordable and financial viable for foster parents, which is why we provide a generous allowance to enable foster parents to be flexible to the needs of the child. Foster parents need to register as self-employed, but benefit from a higher tax threshold. As of the 2025/26 tax year, foster parents do not pay tax on the first £19,690 annual income from fostering per household, plus an additional weekly allowance of £415–£495 per child depending on age.
On average, FIT foster parents can expect to receive £83 per child per day or £581 per child per week or £30,295 a year for caring for a child of any age. We do not differentiate payments based on age recognising that children of all ages have varying needs.
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From this allowance, foster carers are expected to provide for a child the basic amenities, such as food and groceries, clothing and school uniforms, educational resources and activities, holidays, birthday and festive gifts and cover general household expenses. Depending on the needs of the child, additional fees can be negotiated to reflect carer resilience, experience and additional requirements on foster parents where a child needs therapeutic support. An annual increment will be provided every April taking into account rises in the cost of living and inflation.Â
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FIT foster parents are entitled to 14 sleepovers a year for each child in their care. We expect foster parents to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to ensure that children have the opportunity to visit foster carers providing sleepovers beforehand and work to ensure that their child is comfortable with these arrangements. If this allowance is not used, it will be paid in lieu pro rata every April and we encourage foster parents to use this allowance to take their children on holiday with them.
Mileage, up to 20 miles per day, is included within the fostering payment, but for any journeys undertaken in excess of 20 miles to meet the needs of a child, foster parents can claim 45p per mile. In some circumstances where foster parents are regularly travelling substantial distances on a daily basis to meet the needs of a child, we will negotiate specific financial packages to ensure travel expenses are covered without delays caused through submitting claims.
As a CIC, we can be flexible in considering other expenses claims, such as repairs from damage caused, support funding school trips or additional equipment a child may need for activities or training. At FIT, we will always work to ensure that our foster parents are supported emotionally, practically and financially, as we recognise the benefit to the child and the whole fostering household.
We adapt our support and training according to the needs of each child and foster family to provide a holistic approach ensuring all household members are comfortable and safe.
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Fostering offers children the chance to grow up in a stable family home environment.Â
At FIT, our foster parents are part of our team working together supporting children to reach their potential.Â