What is fostering

What is fostering?

Fostering is when a child or young person is unable to live at home and requires a safe and secure environment in which they can thrive.

There are many reasons why children and young people come into foster care and placements can vary in length – they may need a foster home for a few days or on a more permanent basis lasting several years.

Depending on the circumstances, the children and young people may or may not have contact with their birth family.

Types of foster placements

- Emergency placements are made at short notice with a child or young person needing somewhere to stay immediately.

- Short term placements can last days or months whilst a longer term plan is put into place for the welfare of the child or young person

- Long term placements can arise when the child or young person cannot return to live with their family however will remain in contact with them.

- Bridging placements are for children and young people who are about to move to adoptive parents but need a foster placement until they are ready for the permanent move.

- Respite placements are for children and young people who are already in a foster home and the foster carer requests a break usually for a weekend or 1-2 weeks.

- Parent & child placements are when a young mother or father is placed with their child in a foster placement to help them develop parenting skills.

- Remand placements are when a child or young person is placed in foster care as an alternative to being placed in custody.