There are many different types of fostering and we’re happy to discuss with you which may be the best for you, why not have a read and then book on to our ‘You Can Foster’ information event to find out more.
Short-term fostering
Emergency
Being an emergency foster carer can be very rewarding. There are infants, children and teenagers all living locally who have a genuine and urgent need to be cared for away from their own homes for a short time. Individuals able to offer emergency care would need previous experience of working with children or young people and have no children of their own under the age of 16 living at home. One carer also needs to be home-based.
Short breaks (Respite)
Respite care is a short-term placement where a child or young person is placed with a foster family to allow the child’s carers’ time to recharge their batteries so that they can continue to care for their child. This can be a regular, planned arrangement where a child is cared for on a regular basis as part of a support plan, or a one-off period of care if a foster carer is unwell or taking a pre-planned break.
Task-centred (short term)
Task-centred fostering is used to focus on a particular task for a child. This can involve looking after a child or young person whilst family difficulties are resolved so they may return home, or decisions are made about their long-term future care and a permanent or adoptive family is identified.
Placements may be from two days to two years, and the ages of the children and young people placed range from birth to 18 years.
Parent and child
Parent and child fostering is a specialist type of fostering which is sometimes required in order to decide if a parent can provide a good level of care to their child. This is where either a mother or father (sometimes both), will come and live with you with their young child at a time when they need extra help and support. The parent will need your guidance, skills and experience to help develop their parenting skills and understanding of what a child needs. You will care for, support and empower them to develop their confidence, parenting skills and to make positive decisions about their child’s wellbeing.
Long-term fostering (permanence)
Some children are not able to return to their birth parents or wider family because it would not be safe for them to do so. We strongly believe that permanent foster carers should be identified for these children where they can remain until they reach adulthood and beyond. Permanent fostering requires a high level of commitment because the child may have experienced many moves, abuse or neglect before the decision to find a permanent placement is made.
In addition to the preparation course which all prospective foster carers attend, long-term foster carers get an additional one day course to help prepare them for the role of looking after a child or young person on a long-term basis. All long-term foster carers are provided with 14 nights respite per year unless care plans recognise that additional periods are required.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC)
We are seeking foster carers who can care for children and young people, separated from their families, either in their own country or during transit to the UK.
These children and young people have travelled long distances to the UK. They will need time to be able to build trust with those around them. Carers who meet their needs and support them to reach their aspirations. We will work with you and provide training.
Unaccompanied children seek asylum due to:
- war, conflict or civil unrest
- forced recruitment into military service
- escape from extreme poverty and deprivation
- persecution, because of religious beliefs, sexuality or ethnicity
- at risk of being trafficked, beaten up or tortured
What are the differences between fostering young people from the UK and fostering UASC?
Unaccompanied children and young people are not leaving their family because of abuse or neglect. They are forced to leave behind family and friends because of conflict or persecution. They may have had a good relationship and a loving bond with their family and feel anxious about their future.
In some cases, the young people will speak little or no English. There are elements of life in the UK that they have not heard of. Everything will be different for them; for example - food, weather, cultural etiquette and language.
Where have the children and young people travelled from?
- Sudan
- Afghanistan
- Eritrea
- Iran
- Syria
How old are the children and young people who need support?
The children and young people who come to the UK to seek asylum are between 15 and 17 years old but some are younger. Most are boys.
Some of the young people who come to the UK require an age assessment. This occurs when the Home Office are disputing age. We receive a photograph of the young person prior to arrival. Ourselves and the UASC team then assess whether we need to do an age assessment in a shorter time frame. A complete assessment occurs around 1 month after a child is in our care. It allows them to settle in, for carers and those around them to get to know the young people.
What kind of support do they need?
Foster carers will provide a home where the young person feels safe and supported. An interest in the young person’s culture is essential, to make them feel supported in a new country. Young people are eager to access education, attend activities and be part of the fostering family.
We will help foster carers with the legal procedures regarding the child’s immigration status. Supporting you through the process of applying for permission for them to stay in the UK.
More information about independent advice from The Fostering Network about looking after unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the UK.