Wednesday 19 October 2016
With so many different types of foster care available, it can be difficult to choose which one is right for you. So how do you decide which would best fit your household?
Below we have provided a short description of each type of foster care and who it might suit to help you narrow down your options:
Emergency foster care – Sometimes, a child needs a foster home urgently in the case of an emergency. It could be that a child is in immediate danger, or they have tragically lost their parent or guardian. Whatever the reason may be, they require need someone to care for them with very little notice.
Would suit – Emergency foster care would suit those who are looking for more short-term placements. You will only be opening up your home until a permanent placement can be found. You would need to be very flexible, as you could receive a call anytime, even during the night or at weekends.
Short-term foster care – Our goal is to ensure the children who enter our care are provided with stability. However, sometimes, and for a number of reasons, we may need to place a child into short-term care until a more permanent placement can be found. Placements typically last anything from one night to a few months.
Would suit – Short-term foster care is another type of foster care that’s perfect for those looking to foster on a more temporary basis. You’ll meet a wide range of children and learn a lot along the way!
Long-term foster care – The goal of foster care is to provide a loving, stable home for vulnerable children for as long as they need it. This can often mean caring for them right they way through until adulthood.
Would suit – Long-term fostering is great for those looking to make a life-long difference to a child. If you’d rather be given the opportunity to develop a strong, positive relationship in a vulnerable child’s life then this type of care is a great option.
Disability foster care – Children with physical or learning disabilities can find it harder to find a foster home. They require special help and support to help them develop into healthy, happy children and young adults. While it is certainly one of the more challenging types of foster care, it is also one of the most rewarding.
Would suit – Disability foster carers need to have patience, kindness and the ability to look after a child with more complex needs. This type of care would especially suit those who have some kind of experience and knowledge of looking after a child with disabilities. However, full training is always provided so no experience is necessary.
Remand foster care – Out of all of the different types of foster care, remand care is one of the least understood. It involves taking in a child who has found themselves in trouble with the law. Without a foster home, they would need to be placed into police custody which could do more harm than good. These placements are usually short-term, but you can be required to attend court dates and meetings with solicitors. Again, full training will be provided to support you with this.
Would suit – Anyone looking to make a positive difference to a young person’s life. Often these children are scared and vulnerable with nowhere to turn. They can also be in this situation through no fault of their own and so patience, kindness and a non-judgemental approach are all vital skills to help a young person during this difficult time.
Transitional (Step-Down) foster care – This specialist type of foster care supports children making the adjustment from living in residential care to foster care. This can be one of the more challenging types of foster care due to the fact that many of these children come from a neglected background. Therefore, they can have behavioural and emotional issues. Your job, along with in-depth support, will be to help them overcome these issues, preparing them for life with a new family.
Would suit – This type of foster care would largely suit those who have a lot of patience and understanding and want to make a huge difference to a child’s life. You will be in touch with professional, experienced child psychologists who will work with you to overcome any issues presented.
Sibling foster care – Being separated from a sibling can be devastating for children who need foster care and we simply don’t have enough foster carers who are open to fostering siblings. This means that sadly over a third are forced apart – a statistic we want to change!
Would suit – Fostering siblings is hugely rewarding as you not only make a change to one life but two or more. This type of care would suit anyone looking to make a real difference to the lives of children and help keep a family together. Whilst fostering more than one child can be challenging it is also hugely rewarding.
If you have any questions about the types of foster care on offer and whether it is right for you, please contact us. Regardless of which type of foster carer you choose to be, you will always have the full support of our friendly team and expert training.