Placement Types
There are different types of foster placements to meet the diverse needs of children and young people that enter the care system. This will be explored as part of your assessment process.
Emergency / Same Day
This is when a child or young person needs to be placed at short notice, usually on the same day.
This might be needed where there is an unexpected change to the child or young person’s current living arrangements. Foster Carers ensure the child or young person is safe and secure until long term arrangements are made.
Respite
Respite provides care to children and young people for short periods, usually on a regular basis to give birth parents or their full-time foster carers a break.
The length of break can vary from one weekend a month to a two or three week period.
Short Term
Short term care is where a child is cared for on a temporary basis, often for a few days or weeks in some cases longer, depending on their individual circumstances.
Foster Carers provide children and young people with care and support whilst professionals explore whether it is safe for them to return home.
Long Term
Long term fostering allows children and young people to stay in a family where they can feel secure until they become adults. Where appropriate, Foster Carers often maintain a relationship with their foster child long after the placement has ended.
Staying Put
Young people in foster care who turn 18 years are allowed to remain with their Foster Carers until they are at least 21 years of age (25 years in some circumstances). Both parties must agree to this.
This private arrangement is known as ‘Staying Put’.
Sibling Placements
Local Authorities and fostering agencies try to keep siblings together where possible.
Keeping siblings together can help them to settle more easily with their Foster Carers and feel more secure. It can also provide a greater sense of security and belonging.
Parent and Child
This is when Foster Carers offer a home to both a new or expectant parent (or both parents) and their child/ren.
This can last for a few months. Foster Carers can help the parents to prepare for the birth of their child/ren and to support them in providing a safe and nurturing environment.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
This involves caring for a child or young person who is seeking asylum in the UK and who has been separated from their birth family.
Some children and young people have little or no English skills and require a family to support them to adjust to a new culture, language and way of life as well as helping them through the trauma they have encountered.
