Types of fostering

There are different types of foster care depending on the needs of both the child and their family. These include short-term care for just a few days or weeks, long-term placements as well as care for disabled children or children with behavioural problems.

Categories of foster care

Emergency

When children need somewhere safe to stay for a few nights.

Short-term

When carers look after children for a few weeks or months while plans are made for the child's future.

Short breaks or respite

When disabled children, children with special needs or children with behavioural difficulties regularly stay for a short time with a family so that their parents or usual foster carers can have a break.

Long-term

Adoption is not suitable for all children who need to permanently live away from their birth family, instead they go into long-term foster care until they are adults.

Family and friends

A child in the care of the local Trust goes to live with someone they already know which usually means family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles or their brother or sister.

Specialist therapeutic

For children and young people with very complex needs or challenging behaviour.

Fee Paid

These foster carers look after children/young people with more complex needs and/or challenging behaviour. These are more demanding placements and a fee is paid in addition to fostering allowances as it is anticipated that the carer will need to devote more time to the child.