Fostering in Basingstoke with sunbeam fostering agency
Do you live in Basingstoke? And looking for a local fostering agency with whom you want to become a foster carer? Sunbeam Fostering Agency is one of the largest in the UK. We offer up to £700 per child per week with local staff at hand in Basingstoke.
Sunbeam Fostering Agency is one of the largest fostering agencies in the UK, we have offices all around England, please visit our contact us page to locate the nearest Sunbeam office to Basingstoke.
Head Office - Langley
Sunbeam House, 12 Waterside Drive, Langley, Slough, SL3 6EZ, UK
Registered Office - Coventry
383 Broad Lane, Coventry, West Midlands, CV5 7AX, UK
What do children gain from fostering?
There are at any one time more than 65,000 children in the UK in the care system and as the population grows so does the number of children requiring foster homes.
Choosing to become a foster parent and deciding to give something back to society can be a wonderful but often daunting experience with many people not knowing where to start.
Why Sunbeam
Reason why you should choose us
At Sunbeam, we are proud of our standards and the support and training that we provide to our foster carers. We are driven by children’s needs.
Don’t hesitate, contact us for better help and services. Call us at 020 8799 0930 write to us at info@sunbeamfostering.com
Who can foster?
Your age should be at least 21 years-old (although by law you can apply to foster from 18) and to have a spare bedroom big enough for a young person to live in.
Fostering Allowance
As a foster carer, you will receive fostering allowance which normally covers things like food, clothing, transportation, pocket money, outings etc.
Become a Foster Carer
Take a first step towards fostering, get in touch with our Basingstoke fostering team
All About Fostering Allowance
Sunbeam offers up to £700 fostering allowance per child per week depending on children’s needs. Additionally, we pay other allowances and our foster carers receive many other benefits while fostering with us. We welcome foster carers from a diverse range of backgrounds and all ages. We would welcome you to take the opportunity to speak to one of our existing foster carers to hear this first hand.
FAQ – FOSTERING
We have answered a few common questions about fostering here
01. I'm not married – does this matter?
No. You can be married, single, divorced or living together. The main thing that you need is to be able to provide a safe and supportive environment for your foster child.
02. Can I still go out to work and be a foster carer?
Yes, you would be able to work part-time if you are a single foster parent to ensure that you are able to fulfil your commitments, you would need to make sure that your working arrangement is flexible so that you can tend to any emergencies that would arise with a foster child if needed. If you are a couple who have decided to become foster parents you would need to make sure that one of you is available at all times. This could be making sure that working hours don’t clash or maybe that one parent works while the other is home based to care for the foster child or children.
03. Do I have to own my home?
No, it does not matter if you are renting or own your home, this will not affect your application to become a foster carer. As long as you have a spare room in your home dedicated to accommodating foster children owner status is not a problem.
01. My partner doesn't live with me should I include them on the application form?
Yes please, include any individuals who is a significant person in your life and will frequently visit the house.
02. Do I have a choice in the type of child I care for?
Children who require care must have foster carers who can meet their needs. Throughout the fostering assessment process, we work with you to identify your strengths and skills to assist you in identifying the children and young people you could care for. We will also identify specific training with Sunbeam to assist you in expanding your skills as a foster carer.
Before you are approved by the Agency Decision Maker, we will have agreed on the type of child who will fit in with your family. This includes the age, gender, ethnicity and religion of potential foster children.
01. How much is the Fostering Allowance?
At the Sunbeam Fostering Agency we believe that our carers and foster children should have a good standard of living and a quality of life. Sunbeam offers up to £700 fostering allowance per child per week depending on children’s needs. Additionally, we pay other allowances and our foster carers receive many other benefits while fostering with us. This allowance is paid when children are in care and is not paid when carers do not have placements.
Please ask for a copy of our Foster Carer Payment Guide which is updated and reviewed annually.
02. What does the weekly allowance cover?
The weekly allowance is intended to cover all the needs of each foster child, including food, clothing, travel, activities, savings and so on. We provide guidance on how money should be spent on each child, to ensure that the child has a healthy and balanced life.
01. Will I be taxed on the allowance?
In April 2003, the Government introduced an income tax exemption for foster carers with an income below a set level. Allowances for looking after foster children placed with the Sunbeam are not generally taxable. However, foster carers who have multiple placements and who also work may be liable to pay some tax if their income is above the set level.
For the purposes of calculating tax, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) treat foster carers as self-employed. HMRC produce helpful guidance for Foster Carers which you can request direct from HMRC (ask for guidance IR 236).
02. Do I qualify to claim any benefits?
Eligibility to benefits is assessed on an individual basis by the relevant central or local government department, and the Sunbeam Fostering Agency cannot offer advice specific to benefit eligibility.
The government department responsible for benefit entitlement is called the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Any queries about fostering allowances and benefit eligibility needs to be assessed by the DWP. Find information by calling 0800 882200 or visit www.dwp.gov.uk
Jobcentre Plus delivers benefits to many people of working age, so contact your local office for advice.
Housing Benefit, Council Tax benefits and tax credits are calculated and administered by your own Local Authority.
Alternatively, seek specialist advice from an advisory agency such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) or a welfare rights service.
03. Do I qualify for tax credits?
Fostering counts as self-employment, so you may be entitled to Working Tax Credit (and also Child Tax Credit if you have children of your own). You need to get advice about Tax Credits, which takes into consideration your own individual circumstances. Eligibility and assessments for tax credits can be made by contacting 0845 300 3900.
04. Will I have to pay National Insurance?
All foster carers must register as self-employed, so must register to pay National Insurance contributions. You can obtain get information by calling the Newly Self-Employed Helpline on 0845 915 4515.
