First foster carers approved since launch of new offer
Friday 28 March 2025: Hillingdon Council is celebrating the successful recruitment of five foster carers following the launch of its campaign last year with an unrivalled payments and benefits package.
The five newly recruited households comprise a mix of new carers and those who have transferred from independent fostering agencies. This diverse group of dedicated individuals is set to make a positive impact on the lives of children in need.
The council is continuing to recruit its own dedicated carers to support 340 children in its care and help tackle the national shortage of carers.
Since last May, foster carers in Hillingdon can earn up to £1,500 per week and receive a 25 per cent reduction in council tax when looking after a child in care. This also includes £1,000 off utility bills, a winter fuel allowance and a family Platinum Merlin pass. This equates to an annual salary of up to £72,000.
Several more carers are currently in the approval process and are set to join the council between now and August.
Parveen Khan, 52, moved to Hillingdon in 2023 and became a council foster carer in March this year after transferring from an independent fostering agency based in Essex. She praised the new package and the support she'd received from the council saying the move would allow her to attend more training and access support groups in person.
She said: "Hillingdon has put forward a great package which will help carers to move forward, especially single people who can't work because they are looking after children.
"The help with the Merlin passes, electricity and the council tax are a big help. You can turn the heating off when you don't have children, but when you do you need to keep it on and that does help, especially with the rising cost of living. I think it's great to have that extra support.
"Being able to call our social worker and get hold of them has been wonderful. The family hub at Uxbridge is amazing - I think it's so great to have that facility for parents and carers and to be helping them."
Cllr Susan O'Brien, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: "We are delighted to welcome these fantastic new foster carers to Hillingdon and look forward to the positive impact they will have on the lives of children in need by providing stable, nurturing and loving homes.
"This shows the impact that our new package is having in attracting foster carers and providing them with the support and reassurance they need to complete the approvals process.
"We know that fostering can have a financial impact on households and our offer recognises that, and is designed to help with costs and be, in some cases, the equivalent of a replacement income. We hope it will encourage even more people to come forward and find out more about fostering in the borough."
Find out more about fostering for Hillingdon at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/fostering
