Types of fostering

This includes children living with you for a few nights, weeks or months until difficulties at home are sorted or we can make alternative plans for the child's future. Anything up to one to two years would be considered short-term.

A permanent home for children and young people who can't return home to their birth family. Our aim is that they remain with you until they can live independently - in the same way any of your own children would.

A one off or regular short breaks for young people or children to give their foster carers a break. You would need to be available to offer at least one weekend per month, but of course you could do more.

Intense, short-term care placements for babies and one/both parents. May involve parenting assessments for court proceedings. To offer these placements, you'll need to be an experienced foster carer with strong communication skills to assess parenting potential. Additional specialist fees are payable. 

This is to provide a stable and secure environment for babies and toddlers in care who are likely to need adoption. They may still be reunited with their birth family. In many cases, the foster carer goes on to legally adopt the child.

Private fostering is when families make private arrangements with others to care for their children.  We need to be notified and are required to undertake checks on these arrangements.

This could be during the night or at weekends and involve taking a child or brothers and sisters for a short period of time in an emergency situation. Situations can often arise at short notice. At least one foster carer needs to be available at home full time. A specialist skill is payable to provide these placements.