In Medway, we put care first.
We're responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all our children.
Our social workers, managers, and independent reviewing officers work together to make decisions in the best interest of our children.
Find out more about:
- our fostering community
- professional development and training
- fees and allowances
- our refer a friend scheme.
Fostering community
We host social events to show our appreciation to you, including a large-scale Christmas and summer event, where you'll have the chance to meet other foster carers.
You'll also have access to support 24 hours a day, everyday.
Mockingbird Constellations
You'll have the opportunity to join one of 4 Mockingbird Constellations in Medway.
Members act as a wider extended family would, meeting for days out or to mark special occasions, and children can have sleepovers at each other’s houses.
Professional development and training
Skills to Foster training
During your assessment period, you'll have access to our Skills to Foster training.
This will introduce you to the following topics:
- caring for children
- providing durability
- resilience
- commitment
- working effecively with professionals and the child's birth family
- understanding safer caring.
This training will help you feel fully prepared to take on the role of a foster carer.
During this training, you'll also get the opportunity to meet other foster carers, some of which have been fostering for many years.
Additional training
We'll also let you know about any training we or our partners are running that we think would be good for your own development and learning.
Fees and allowances
We offer fees and allowances to help you cover the cost of looking after a child, and as a thank you from us.
We also offer:
- a £600 discount on your Council Tax bill
- a Passport to Leisure card to any child in care
- £1,000 for completeing your annual review
- additional payments for the child's birthday or special occasions.
These allowances are to help you provide your foster child with the childhood they deserve.
Refer a friend scheme
We run a refer a friend scheme.
You can earn £50 for referring a friend to us, and £450 if they go on to become a foster carer themselves.
Speak to your supervising social worker for more information about refering a friend.