We need foster carers for:

• Babies
• Toddlers
• Teenagers
• Children with disabilities
• Children from many different religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds
• Brother and sisters

Types of fostering placements

Fostering children does not have to be a full time commitment. There are different types of placement on offer and the team of social workers in the fostering unit will work closely with you to decide which type of placement best suits your own personal circumstances.

Here is a list of the types of placement we offer:

Emergency placements

These are often made at times of acute crisis for families or when a child’s safety can only be guaranteed by providing foster care. Sometimes the children and young people are subjects of police protection orders, emergency protection orders or interim care orders.

Permanent and long-term placements

Children and young people are sometimes cared for in permanent foster placements.

This is because:

• they cannot return home to their families for a variety of reasons; and
• it is not appropriate for them to be adopted - often because important relationships with their family need to be sustained

Long-term foster placements are usually for children over seven years old and who are very often subject to care orders.

We will match a child or young person with a foster carer who can best meet their needs. A series of planned introductions will take place.

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Short-term and short-break placements

Short-term and short-break placements help families have a short period of time apart so they can:

• tackle a serious problem
• resolve a crisis
• have a health need seen to

Short-term and short-break placements benefit children and young people as they get to experience new people and different situations.

Supported day care

These foster carers give help and support to parents, carers, full-time foster carers and children.

Day carers do not look after children overnight. If you are interested in fostering but do not have the bedroom space, this may suit you.

To become a day carer, the process is the same as for any foster carer. You receive the same training and support and are also paid an allowance.

Acorn care

This is a specialist scheme for older children aged 10-17 years old. It involves caring for young people with complex needs and challenging behavior. It is also used for young people who have been remanded by the courts into our care.

This is the only scheme we have in place where we pay a wage and an age related allowance.

If you are interested in this kind of fostering, you need to have additional training to cope with the level of challenging behaviour the young people often display.

We need both short and long term carers.

Short break services for children with disabilities 

We need carers who offer day care and overnight care in their home to children and young people with severe learning disabilities. Some children are also disabled physically and need specialist care. Find out more about the short break service.

All carers need to be trained and assessed. They will be supported by a social worker. An allowance is paid to the carer for each child being looked after.