Find out if you could be a foster carer
In a few simple questions, you’ll know if you’re suitable to apply to become a foster carer.
We provide many different types of foster care to meet the needs of vulnerable children across the UK. These include short-term or long-term, bridging, parent and child fostering and more.
Finding the type of foster care that is right for you
Each type of foster care we offer is there to meet the needs of children and young people who require a supportive and caring environment. With the many different types of foster care at National Fostering Group, it means that you can make a difference in a way that suits you best.
Whatever type of foster care you settle on, you’ll have our full support in everything you do. Starting with your basic mandatory training, we offer many opportunities to improve your knowledge and skills so you can be your best in your role. Many of our optional training courses are useful for particular types of fostering and could help you specialise in types of foster care placement that attract a higher fostering allowance.
You will also be assigned a supervising social worker and you’ll build strong contacts at your local National Fostering Group agency. You’ll also have access to 24/7 advice and strong peer support. If you are a carer in Kent, you could also benefit from the additional support network at Heath Farm, one of our agencies which operates a therapeutic fostering structure known as Mockingbird and more.
When a child or young person needs a place to stay and be taken care of, they are placed under short-term (or temporary) foster care. By becoming a short-term foster carer, you will help vulnerable children by giving them the support and help they need as they settle into their temporary home. It’s a positive experience as much for you as it is for them, and you’ll get all the support you need from us every step of the way.
Long-term foster care is often chosen when a child when can’t be reunited with their family. It offers them the chance to grow up in a stable, supportive and loving environment. They will be a part of your family for several years, or up until they are ready to take care of themselves. More often than not, the child will become a firm member of your family for the rest of their life.
We all need some time to ourselves to re-energise, even foster carers. As a respite foster carer, you will provide temporary support for foster children when their primary foster carers need some time to themselves. This type of foster care differs from short-term fostering in that it’s much shorter and has a definite timescale, which ranges from 1 or 2 days to about a week. We arrange planned respite where possible, so the child can build a trusted relationship with the foster carer.
In some situations, it isn’t feasible to decide on a placement for a child or young person ahead of time. When it’s not possible for some children to stay where they are, or it’s unsafe, they will come into the foster system on an emergency basis, requiring immediate care. This type of placement is very varied by nature and requires flexibility and patience.
Other types of foster care
We also provide other types of foster care to ensure we meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people in all types of circumstances.
Young people in the criminal justice system might need foster care while waiting for their court date. As a remand foster carer, your support and encouragement can make a real difference in guiding young people towards a better future.
It’s vital that siblings stay together, so we do everything possible to make sure they’re not separated when they are placed into foster care. This type of foster care is in demand due to the number of siblings who may have never experienced the safety and security of a stable environment.
Bridge to Foster is a type of temporary foster care which helps foster children adjust to the significant step of moving on to somewhere more permanent. Like with all our types of foster care, you’ll have our support through the entire process. We’ll make sure you have the right knowledge that will equip you with skills and resources as you prepare for this type of foster care.
Parents sometimes need a little bit of extra help caring for their children. We need foster carers to be on hand to develop the parent’s skills whilst they learn from you. This type of fostering is typically 12 weeks long but may last longer.
This is a more demanding role than our other types of foster care. It’s a highly specialised role for an experienced foster carer who might have additional skills and training. We recommend you consider being available to foster young children of other ages too.
As a foster carer involved in this type of fostering, you will be looking after asylum seekers, refugees and migrants who have arrived in the UK without parents or close relatives to look after them. For this type of fostering placement, you should be prepared to support your foster child in recovery from trauma and the practicalities of learning English.
With this type of fostering, you will provide the opportunity for a young person in foster care to get into or continue education and training. This is beneficial because it gives them more time to make the transition into adulthood and independence.
Therapeutic foster care, or therapeutically led care (TLC), is a specialist type of foster care. With our dedicated support, you will learn how to foster children who have experienced abuse and trauma at a young age. You’ll then provide specialist care, tailored to the foster child’s circumstances and experiences. As their foster carer, you’ll play a vital role in transforming their lives, as they learn to feel safe and secure, perhaps for the first time.
Support for all types of foster care
Whatever type of foster care placement you choose, you’ll have our full support through the application process and when you’re fostering.
Starting with your basic mandatory training, we offer many opportunities to improve your knowledge and skills to be your best in your role. Many of our optional training courses are useful for particular types of fostering and could help you specialise in types of fostering that attract a higher fostering allowance.
You will also be assigned a supervising social worker, and you’ll build strong contacts at your local National Fostering Group agency. You’ll also have access to 24/7 advice and strong peer support. If you are a carer in Kent, you could also benefit from the additional support network at Heath Farm, one of our agencies which operates a therapeutic fostering structure known as Mockingbird.
There are many challenges that come with fostering and looking after any young person can present difficulties. As an LGBT foster carer, we were worried that we would be subject to prejudice from society. We’re glad to say that we’ve not received any such prejudice and fostering has been the most rewarding, fulfilling journey helped by the support of those around us.
