There are many different types of fostering placements that our carers can choose to specialise in or have a preference for.
Each different type of fostering placement has its own challenges and rewards and some placements begin as short-term and then progress into long-term.
If you think you could become a foster carer, you should take some time and get to know the different types of fostering placement types available; and which type would suit you and your family the most.
01. Emergency
Emergency placements are usually needed at short notice and are often short term in nature. They are required when there has been a sudden change to a child’s situation e.g. a child’s parent has been taken into hospital and a foster home needs to be found urgently. Occasionally Emergency placements are needed during the night and at weekends and children can arrive confused and frightened. As with all placements, matching children to families is important to ensure the best outcomes and sometimes these placements can develop into longer term placements.
02. Short Term Placements
Providing temporary placements for children and young people until plans for their future are confirmed. This can be an emergency placement, with little advance warning or planning.
03. Respite Placements
For disabled children and children who need regular weekend and holiday placements.
04. Long Term Placements
Where adoption is not an option and the Foster Carer looks after the child or young person as a member of their family until they are ready to be independent. Children in long-term foster care will retain on-going contact with their birth families. The frequency of this will vary according to their personal circumstances.
05. Sibling Placements
Providing care for family groups of brothers and sisters who need to stay together. We know that children are much more likely to settle and progress if they are kept with their brothers and sisters, especially if they have a close emotional bond.
06. Solo Placements
These placements are for children and young people who require additional help, monitoring and support and whom for identified reasons, will need to be the only looked after children in the foster home. Usually these children have complex and specific needs and require carers who have the experience, knowledge and skills to care for them.
07. Parent And Child Placements
A parent and baby foster placement is a specialist type of fostering where typically a young parent, usually a mother and baby, comes to stay with you for up to 4 months. The parent will need some extra help and advice until they can safely care for their baby on their own.
08. Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
There are children and young people who arrive in the UK with no family and very little belongings. They often do not speak English or have very little understanding of it, and they need foster homes to offer them safety and security and help build a new life here.
