Read more about the different types of foster care you could provide.
Fostering can be short-term or long-term, ranging from a day or 2, to a few months, or many years.
Fostering is many different things to different people. It’s not one size fits all, it’s very flexible. How one person describes fostering will depend on:
Children may need foster care from the moment they are born, and some children stay in care up to the age of 18 and beyond. Many are part of a sibling group, and all will come from a variety of geographical areas, and a wide range of different cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Sometimes a child will return home to live with their family, they may be adopted, or be fostered until they reach adulthood.
When a child goes to live with a foster carer it's referred to as a placement.
When a child first comes into care and their long-term future is uncertain, they will be fostered in a short-term placement.
This placement could last from a few days to several years whilst decisions are being made and agreed upon.
As a short-term foster carer, you can still provide a child with a stable and loving home.
Some children cannot return to their birth family and may be placed in long term foster care until they are ready to live independently.
A family home can provide the security and stability that a child needs to thrive and reach their full potential.
Parent and child placements provide a home for both the parent and their child.
The foster carer will teach parenting skills, encourage the parental bond and ensure the child is safe and cared for during an assessment period.
The aim is for the parent and child to move on to live independently after a few months.
Some children need to be looked after for a short period on a regular basis. This could be for as little as one weekend per month or for a holiday.
Respite care can give parents or other foster carers a break and can prevent a breakdown in the family.
Some foster carers offer respite care in addition to other short and longterm placements whilst others prefer to offer respite care only.
Fostering Plus is unique opportunity to support a young person’s transition from residential care back into a family home environment, or to prevent them from being placed into residential care at all.
We provide a comprehensive package of focused training and specialist support to helpn fostering plus carers care for young people with complex needs.
Positive outcomes are often seen as a result of this type of fostering and it can be extremely rewarding.
Some foster carers choose to specialise in caring for children and young people who have been separated from their families, either in their own country or during transit to the UK.
They are often distressed and frightened because of the overwhelming experience they have been through and need help to learn the skills required to successfully build a new life in the UK.
Supported Lodgings carers provide young people (care leavers 18 plus) with emotional support and help them to learn the every day, practical skills they need for adult life.
To be a Supported Lodgings carer you must like and respect young people, understand some of the issues they may face, and have the space and flexibility to offer advice in a safe and supportive environment. More information about Supported Lodgings can be found on our Supported Lodgings page.