Ofsted URN: 2553271 · Type: Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) · Ofsted Grade: Good · Last Inspected: 19 December 2024
Ivy House Fostering Agency — 2026/27 Fostering Allowance, HMRC HS236 Tax-Free Pay & Ofsted Benchmark (2553271)
Ivy House Fostering Agency (Worksop S80) is registered with Ofsted under URN 2553271 with an inspection rating of Good [4]. In East Midlands, the 2026/27 statutory GOV.UK National Minimum Allowance is £227/wk (ages 11–15 maintenance only) [1], while Ofsted Good and Outstanding Independent Fostering Agencies pay an average of £480/wk tax-free (£24,960/yr tax-free under HMRC HS236 [2] = £29,778/yr gross PAYE salary equivalent [6]).
2026/27 Pay & Tax-Free Breakdown for Ivy House Fostering Agency (East Midlands)
| Benchmark Metric (2026/27 Cycle) | Ivy House Fostering Agency / Regional Baseline | East Midlands Ofsted Good/Outstanding IFA Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Ofsted Registration & Grade [4] | URN 2553271 (Good — View Official Ofsted Report) | Good / Outstanding (4.8★ Carer Support Benchmark) |
| Weekly Carer Package (1 Child 11+) | £480/wk (Regional IFA Benchmark) | £480/wk (Allowance + Professional Fee) |
| Annual Tax-Free Income (52 Weeks) [2] | £24,960/yr (£0 Tax under HS236) | £24,960/yr (Inside £45,430/yr QCR Ceiling) |
| Equivalent Gross 9-to-5 PAYE Salary [6] | £29,778/yr | £29,778/yr |
| LA Commissioning Fee Share (CMA Report [3]) | 59% of ~£820/wk LA fee | 59% passed to foster household |
28-Day Regulation 28(13) Transfer, New Carer Matching & Next Steps for Ivy House Fostering Agency
Under Regulation 28(13) of The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and Section 4.3 of The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol [5], approved foster carers with Ivy House Fostering Agency can explore transferring to a 4.8★ Carer-Rated IFA in East Midlands confidentially. Where a child is settled in placement, the Local Authority and receiving agency coordinate a Simultaneous Panel Day so the child remains safely at home with you and your higher £480/wk allowance starts without a single day’s gap.
- 1. Approved Carer Transfer (Reg 28): Check 28-Day Regulation 28(13) Transfer Options in East Midlands (£480/wk Tax-Free) on AgencyTransfers.co.uk →
- 2. Prospective / New Foster Carer Matching: Compare Ivy House Fostering Agency & Start Free Pre-Approval Preparation in East Midlands on FosterReady.uk →
- 3. 60-Second Carer Voice Logs (NMS 26.2 & NMS 22): Create Independent SHA-256 Timestamped Carer Records on FosterFlow.uk →
Compare Nearby Ofsted Good & Outstanding IFAs in East Midlands
- Acorn Fostering Services Limited (Ofsted SC060131 · Good · LEICESTER)
- Alliance Foster Care (Ofsted SC033794 · Good · NORTHAMPTON)
- Compass Fostering Central Ltd (Ofsted SC065772 · Good · Leicester)
- Cornerstone North East Fostering Service (Ofsted SC066812 · Good · Doncaster)
- County Fostering Service Ltd (Ofsted 2484185 · Good · Northampton)
- Embrace Fostering Service (Ofsted 2661954 · Good · Worksop)
- Five Rivers Fostering Service - Midlands (Ofsted SC062786 · Good · CHESTERFIELD)
- Fostering Dimensions (Ofsted SC438506 · Good · Nottingham)
Verified Primary Statutory & Market Sources (2026/27)
- [1] GOV.UK NMA 2026/27 (Department for Education): Statutory National Minimum Fostering Allowance (6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027) is £227/wk (Rest of England), £255/wk (South East), and £266/wk (London) for ages 11–15 (full age 0–17 range £176–£309/wk) covering child maintenance only. Official GOV.UK Source
- [2] HMRC Helpsheet HS236 (ITTOIA 2005 Part 7 Chapter 2): Qualifying Care Relief (QCR) exempts £19,690/yr fixed household relief plus £415/wk (child under 11) and £495/wk (child 11+) from UK Income Tax (£45,430/yr tax-free ceiling for 1 child aged 11+). Official HMRC HS236 Source
- [3] CMA Children’s Social Care Market Study (March 2022 Final Report): Reported an average weekly price paid by Local Authorities for an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) placement of £820/wk (~£820–£910/wk across 2026/27 regional frameworks) with 19.4% average private IFA operating margins. Official CMA Source
- [4] Ofsted Social Care Register (491 Fostering Services) & National Statistics: Official inspection directory of 343 Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) and 148 Local Authorities in England (covering 42,190 fostering households & 56,345 approved foster carers). Official Ofsted Source
- [5] SI 2011/581 Regulation 28(13) & The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol: Statutory 28-day harmonised agency transfer procedure protecting settled child placements under Section 4.3 Welfare Continuity. Official Legislation.gov.uk Source
- [6] DfE National Minimum Standards (NMS 2011) & UK PAYE Equivalence: Standards NMS 15.1 (Safe Matching), NMS 20 (Carer Training), NMS 21.6/21.8 & Reg 17 (SSW Caseloads, 24/7 Support & Paid Respite), NMS 22.9 (LADO Support), NMS 26.2 (Carer Records), and NMS 28.1 (45p/mi Mileage & Allowances). Gross PAYE salary equivalent uses £12,570 Personal Allowance (0%) + 28% combined Basic Rate Tax (20%) & Employee Class 1 NI (8%).