Fostering allowances and the gender pay gap

The gender pay gap has become a hot topic in recent years, with more and more people putting pressure on companies to pay women the same salary as their male counterparts. If you’re considering becoming a foster carer and wondering if you’ll be affected by the gender pay gap, let us put your mind at rest. 

What is the gender pay gap? 

The gender pay gap highlights the inequality between men and women’s average pay. Despite the introduction of the Equal Pay Act 2010, which requires men and women in the same workplace to be given equal pay for equal work, men are still paid more than women in many companies and professions. 
The gender pay gap reduces women's lifetime earnings, affects their pension contributions, and leads to a higher incidence of relative poverty later in life. Based on PWC’s analysis of available gender pay gap data for the 2020-21 reporting year, the gender pay gap sits at 12.5%, which shows that the gap has slightly closed from an average of 14.3% in 2017-18. 

Does the gender pay gap affect fostering?

No, the gender pay gap does not affect fostering. Men and women are given equal opportunities regardless of their gender and are paid equally for undertaking the same roles as foster carers.  

Fostering is fair and inclusive – in no way does your gender affect your ability to foster a child. The main priority is that you’re able to provide the child with a safe and loving home and meet the foster care requirements that are in place.  

In order to foster, you need to: 

• Be at least 21 years of age 
• Have a spare bedroom
• Be in good health
• Be a full-time resident in the UK (or have leave to remain) 
• Have enough time to provide support and care (usually on a full-time basis) to a child or young person 

Alongside the legal requirements of fostering, there are other factors to take into consideration. These include whether or not you have previous experience working with children, if you have a strong support network of friends and family, and if your home life and environment is suitable for a child or young person. 
Similarly to gender, your sexual orientation is also not a deciding factor on whether or not you can become a foster carer, or how much you will be paid. If you have any concerns about your eligibility to foster, you may find it helpful to run through our answers to the common ‘can I foster if…?’ questions we get asked. 

How much do foster carers get paid?

Foster carers earn a weekly allowance for each child or young person they look after. While being a foster carer is incredibly rewarding, it's also hard work – which is why a fostering allowance is provided to support you. 

A foster carer's weekly earnings vary depending on the age and needs of the child. They can also be affected by the geographical area you’re fostering in, as well as whether you choose to foster with an independent agency or local authority. 

Capstone Foster Care is an independent fostering agency, which means we’re able to offer competitive rates for our fostering placements: 

• Therapeutic foster placements - approx. £500 - £575 per week 
• Parent and child placements - approx. £650 per week 
• Standard placements - approx. £400 per week 
• Respite placements - approx. £400 per week 

To find out more about our rates of fostering pay, including how the foster care pay scale is broken down, take a look at our thorough guide. 

Benefits of becoming a foster carer

Foster caring is an excellent career for both men and women, allowing you to make a difference to a child or young person’s life. Children in care are there because their parents(s) cannot look after them and 60% of the time, this is due to abuse or neglect.  

By providing a child with a safe, secure and loving home, you can show them how a functioning family unit really operates. You’ll give a foster child the chance to enjoy just being a child, while instilling good values and helping them to become a positive and optimistic young person.  

Other benefits of becoming a foster carer include the support you will receive. At Capstone Foster Care, you’ll have 24/7 access to a helpful support worker, receive extensive training and be given plenty of opportunities to share your stories and experiences with like-minded foster carers. Like with all jobs, we recognise that fostering has its fair share of challenges, which is why we’re committed to being there for you at every step of your journey. 

Now you know that the gender pay gap doesn’t affect fostering and the benefits of working with us at Capstone, all that’s left to do is get in touch. Just call 0800 012 4004 and a member of our friendly office staff will help you get started on your rewarding new career as a foster carer.