Types of Fostering

During your application assessment you will have opportunity to discuss what type of fostering you would like to undertake with your assessor. Some Foster Carers are approved only for respite and emergency care, others are approved for short term, long term and permanency. Most Foster Carers are approved for any length of time but can cite a preference depending on what fits with their current life style.

• Emergency care involves taking in children on short notice for a night or two.
• Short term care can be anything from a few days to a few years and can evolve into long term care.
• Long term care or permanency will involve carers agreeing to care for that child until they are able to live independently or return to their family home.
• Respite care involves having children to stay for a few days to help out their parents or permanent carers.

Foster Carers are generally approved for children aged 0 to 18, any ethnicity and gender.  Foster Carers experience and current lifestyle will be taken into account when matching individual children to their family.

Occasionally specialist Foster Care is required such as for a parent and child placement or for a child with special needs. The Foster Carer’s level of experience will be taken into account before these placements are made.