Long-Term & Permanent Fostering
Offer a permanent, loving home for a child until adulthood (age 18–21+). Discover £480–£800/week allowances, 'Staying Put' schemes, and approved long-term agencies.
How Much Do Long-Term & Permanent Fostering Foster Carers Get Paid?
Long-term foster care provides permanent family stability for children who cannot return to birth parents or be adopted, raising them until adulthood (age 18–21). Independent agencies pay £480 to £800+ per week, with continuing support under statutory 'Staying Put' legislation beyond age 18.
| Category / Age Group | Local Authority Weekly Rate | Independent Agency (IFA) Rate | Weekly Difference (IFA Uplift) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Age (Ages 7–10) | £185 – £235 /wk | £480 – £600 /wk | +£295 to +£365 /wk |
| Secondary Age (Ages 11–15) | £215 – £275 /wk | £520 – £680 /wk | +£305 to +£405 /wk |
| Adolescence (Ages 16–17) | £250 – £330 /wk | £580 – £780 /wk | +£330 to +£450 /wk |
| Staying Put (Ages 18–21) | £180 – £260 /wk | £300 – £450 /wk | +£120 to +£190 /wk |
Understanding Long-Term & Permanent Fostering
Long-term fostering (often referred to as permanent foster care) occurs when a child in care cannot return to their birth family and adoption is not appropriate (often due to the child's age, strong sibling bonds, or maintaining birth family identity).
The child lives with you as a full family member until they reach adulthood at 18, and frequently into their twenties under the UK government's 'Staying Put' framework.
Unlike short-term fostering, the focus is on lifelong stability, normal family milestones (school trips, family holidays, driving lessons), and reduced social work intervention over time as delegated authority is granted.
📋 Core Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- ✓Raising the child through all childhood, school, and adolescent developmental stages
- ✓Exercising 'Delegated Authority' for day-to-day decisions (school trips, haircuts, sleepovers)
- ✓Supporting healthy identity, cultural roots, and positive birth family connections
- ✓Guiding the young person into higher education, apprenticeships, and independent living
⚠️ Key Challenges
- •Navigating teenage identity questions and past trauma that resurfaces during adolescence
- •Balancing the child's legal status in the care system with everyday family normalcy
- •Managing ongoing birth family relationships over many years
🌟 Primary Rewards
- ✓The profound joy of raising a child to adulthood and being their lifelong family anchor
- ✓Less frequent social work meetings once permanent matching panel approval is granted
- ✓Deep, enduring parental bonds that continue long after the child turns 18 and 21
🎓 Specialist Training Modules
Before and during placement, fostering agencies provide full funding for these accredited training certifications:
What You Need for Long-Term
- ✓A permanent, stable home with a dedicated bedroom
- ✓Long-term stability in your household and relationship circumstances
- ✓Commitment to supporting the young person through teenage years and into adulthood
- ✓Willingness to support the child's heritage, identity, and birth family links
Approved Long-Term Agencies
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions: Long-Term & Permanent Fostering
What is the difference between long-term fostering and adoption?
In adoption, all legal parental responsibility transfers entirely to the adopters, and the child's legal ties to birth parents are severed. In long-term fostering, the local authority and birth parents retain legal parental responsibility, while you receive continuous weekly allowances, dedicated social worker support, and professional training.
What is 'Staying Put' in long-term fostering?
Under UK law, 'Staying Put' enables foster children to remain living with their foster carers after turning 18 until at least age 21. Carers receive continued financial support to ensure smooth transitions into work or university.
Do long-term foster carers have to ask permission for everything?
No. Local authorities use 'Delegated Authority', which gives you the legal power to make everyday parental decisions—such as signing school consent forms, booking holidays, agreeing to sleepovers, and registering for GP visits—without prior social worker approval.
Can I choose the age of the child I foster long-term?
Yes. During your assessment, you specify your preferred age range and gender. The matching process is exceptionally thorough to ensure mutual compatibility before permanent matching is agreed.
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