Foster parents are often approved for more than one type of fostering and approval can change depending on their circumstances, availability and the needs of the child. Sometimes a child can will only stay a few nights, and sometimes they can stay for more than a year or over a decade, as plans change and families evolve. Every child’s situation is different, but our team works closely with professionals to keep our foster parents informed and ensure transition plans work for both the child and their foster family.
Sleepover care usually only lasts for a few nights, but can be for fortnight or sometimes up to a month or on a regular basis, when their usual carers are unwell, need treatment, have other commitments or need a well-earned break.
Sometimes emergencies arise whereby there is no opportunity to plan and foster parents are asked to care for children for a few days to give us more time to make more suitable long term arrangements. Many foster parents start out by providing sleepovers or responding to emergencies to see whether fostering is for them.
When a child first becomes looked after, the Local Authority has a duty to consider all available options for the child’s long term care. The Local Authority allocates 6 months for this process, to agree a plan of permanence for a child, whether they can safely return to their birth family or whether they need to remain looked after. Until the long term plan is agreed for a looked after child, they are considered to be fostered on a short term basis.
When there is no potential for a child to live within their birth family and adoption has been ruled out, then fostering usually becomes the long term plan for a child. The Local Authority then seek to identify foster parents who can commit to care for the child until they are able to live independently. This can mean committing to caring for a child usually until they are at least 18 years old where possible or into their early adulthood. “When I’m Ready” (WIR) allows for children to live beyond their 18th birthday if that is in the best interests of the young person and with the agreement of the foster family
Where there are indications that new or existing birth parents may have difficulty providing care upon the arrival of their newborn baby or there are potential risks identified to the baby, birth parents can sometimes be offered the opportunity to stay with a parent & child foster carer, who can support them to develop the skills they need and help them to keep their baby safe. Parent & child foster parents need to provide daily records, which can be used as part of parenting assessments and Court proceedings and there is an additional level of training and assessment in the fostering approval process as a result.
Step-down fostering refers to children moving from a residential home to a foster home with foster parents. Where children have been accommodated in residential care, but would benefit from being part of a foster family, the Local Authority will provide additional support to identify foster parents who could support a child to transition from a residential home to their foster home. This will usually involve an increased level of therapeutic support and additional funding to reflect increased level of support the child requires through this process.
Unaccompanied asylum seeker children (UASC) have often witnessed war and tragedy and risked their lives to reach the UK. Their experiences can have a profound effect on them and they many want to uphold their religious, cultural traditions and connections to their home. Foster parents who care for unaccompanied asylum seeker children need to be sensitive to these needs. Usually, unaccompanied asylum seeker children can tend to be more self-reliant and may have better independent living skills due to their experiences and may tend to move on to independence at an earlier age. However, without their parents and whilst they are young and still settling into this country, they will need the care and support of foster parents.
Children of all ages we support
Short-term & long-term fostering
Flexible & attuned to each foster family