The different kinds of fostering
People who decide to become foster carers have to think about what sort of fostering they would like to do and are best suited to doing. Listed below are the different kinds of foster caring that many agencies need. The terms used are Adoption-net's own descriptions and the different agencies may use alternative expressions.
Mother and baby fostering
Respite Care This is short periods of care, often at weekends or holidays. Respite care can prevent children needing longer term care by supporting families in times of stress. This can also cover giving other foster carers a break.
Short-term regular breaks are also important to the families of children with disabilities. Such care can help these children to remain at home, or with another family, instead of going into institutional care. Other options
Emergency or short-term care This is where children require immediate care at short notice sometimes in the evening or at weekends while social services departments investigate their situation. They may stay with foster carers from anything between a few days to several months. Other options
Medium-term care This is sometimes called bridging where there is work done to either try to return the child to the family or find a new permanent home for them. A few children, quite often teenagers who are difficult to place for fostering, are not able to return home because families can't cope, have rejected them, or it is not safe to return. These children desperately need families to give them an alternative permanent home where they can feel loved and secure.
This sort of foster care needs a lot of patience, understanding and commitment but can be extremely rewarding to see children develop in confidence and move into independence knowing they have someone to turn to.
Remand Fostering Young people who have been 'remanded' to the care of the local authority by the courts are sometimes placed in the homes of foster carers. This is usually for short periods of time although it can last for several months if a court case is delayed.
The carers are expected to carry out the requirement of the court - which might include a curfew. The aim is to get the young person to look at their behaviour and help them find ways to change it, so they can break their patterns of offending.
Mother and baby fostering Some young mothers, who are still at school, may need foster carers who can support them and help them care for their new babies. They need people who can teach and encourage them without taking over their responsibilities as mothers.
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