Wigan Council Fostering Service
Part of the Foster for Greater Manchester hub
Wigan · Local AuthorityLocally run
Wigan Council's own fostering service. Ofsted judged the experiences and progress of children in care Outstanding in October 2025 (Good overall).
What to know about Wigan Council Fostering Service
As Wigan Council’s in-house fostering service, Wigan Fostering focuses on keeping children rooted in their local communities across the borough, maintaining vital links to their schools, friends, and family networks. Fostering directly through the council ensures that local authority resources are invested straight back into local children's services and the carers who support them.
Carers in Wigan benefit from strong peer support networks and emotional support through Our Safe Space, which Ofsted found has improved the quality and stability of foster care. If you already foster with an independent agency, Wigan pays a one-off £500 per household when you are approved as a Wigan Council foster carer. Wigan Fostering delivers a practical, well-supported environment for both new and experienced carers.
wigan.gov.ukSupport at a glance
A duty social worker throughout the day, home visits, support groups and mentoring from other carers.
Round-the-clock support and out-of-hours advice from expert social workers and support workers.
The same free counselling service as council staff, plus advice from the Educational Psychology Service.
Skills to Foster before approval, then a training programme renowned across the North West, over 200 courses and e-learning, and sessions for your own children.
Discounted family leisure membership (free for foster children), a Blue Light Card and the council's Vivup discounts.
Childcare so you can attend training, reviews or appointments, and extra priority on the housing register.
The Mockingbird Family Model
Wigan's award-winning Mockingbird project links 6 to 10 foster families with a nearby hub home, which offers sleepovers, peer support and social activities.
Fostering households are grouped into small networks of around 6 to 10 families.
Each constellation is anchored by an experienced carer who offers peer advice and a familiar base.
Constellation families meet up regularly, so children and carers build friendships beyond their own household.
Children can stay overnight with a trusted constellation family, giving carers planned breaks.
Types of fostering offered
Fostering allowances
Wigan pays a weekly amount for each child, set by the child's age and your tier:
Depends on the child's age.
Depends on the child's age.
Other payments:
Up to 72 hours.
Rates from 6 April 2026, from Wigan's fees booklet. Checked October 2026.
Shortlist to confirm what you'd be paid
Areas covered
M: M29, M46
WN: WN1–7
What Ofsted say
Ofsted inspected Wigan's children's services on 6 to 17 October 2025. It judged the experiences and progress of children in care and of care leavers Outstanding, and overall effectiveness Good.
"Sustained investment in fostering, the development of support hubs and the dedicated support offered through Our Safe Space have enhanced the experience of foster carers, who report feeling well supported in their roles."
Exceptional partner
Wigan Council Fostering meets our highest standard: children in care rated Outstanding by Ofsted, round-the-clock support from social workers, educational psychology and counselling, award-winning Mockingbird, and an extensive training programme.
How we award badges →