Types of Fostering Placements

A temporary home; when a child is in situation when their parents are unable to look after them. This type of foster placement can range from a single night stay to many months. The child might go back to their own family or go into a longer fostering placement or go onto adoption.

Sometimes it can take months or years for a child to return to his or her birth family and in some cases they might not be able to ever return. So we need foster carers who can provide safety and stability to children on a more long-term basis.

Parent and child placements give parents and young children the opportunity to develop their parenting skills- & living with a trained foster carer. Placements like these can help to keep families together.

This type of fostering is normally unplanne: due to the short notice, it may be needed straight away due to worries around a child’s safety. Due to the urgency involved in these placements there is usually very little information available before a child is placed with the foster carer.

As an emergency carer you would need to be prepared to take a child into your home at any time of the day or night and have them stay for a few days until a longer term plan is made.

Supporting a young person to make the transition from residential care to a family home.

When a child is seeking asylum in the UK without a suitable adult to care for them. This type of placement is to ensure the child or young person is safe and has access to support & specialist care. 

Giving existing carers and birth families help for a short period.. This is usually on a regular basis to give their foster parents/birth parents a break.

Siblings often benefit from living together and we have many referrals for of this type.  Sibling groups are normally two or three children. 

Following a risk assessment, they can share a bedroom if agreed by the placing authority  if appropriate.  If the plans become more long term, the siblings will need their own bedroom when they older.

Remand fostering can be an alternative to custody for children who are waiting court proceedings. This type of placement provides the young person with a positive family environment away from any negative influences.