Types of Fostering
Permanent or Long-Term Fostering
The foster family usually carers for the child until they reach adulthood. At no point will foster carers assume any legal responsibility for the child – this will always be held by the Local Authority and Birth Parents.
Private Fostering
When parents make an arrangement for their child to stay with someone (for 28 days or more) who is not a close relative. Social Services must be informed and will undertake checks to ensure that the child is being cared for within a set of guidelines.
Short-Term Fostering
Involves the carers looking after a child for a few weeks or months (sometimes longer) while permanent plans are made for the child.
Emergency Foster Care
Caring for children who need somewhere safe to stay immediately, usually for a few nights.
Short Break Care
Usually involves children living with their own foster family and having short breaks with another foster family. This most often applies to children with a disability.
Remand Fostering
Caring for young people who are ‘remanded’ by the court into the care of the local authority.
Kinship Care
Children are cared for by people they already know – such as family, friends and other people connected to them.
Parent & Child or Mother and Baby Care
Usually involves carers looking after a parent and their child (often young mothers and their newborn babies) and preparing them for the future.
Staying Put
Staying Put is the arrangement whereby care leavers can choose to live with their foster carers beyond the age of 18, and until they are 21 in some cases.
Find out more...
Everyone is different and we are happy to talk with you to discuss what foster care might look like in your circumstances. Please contact us to explore further!
