Different types of fostering

Task Centred

Foster carers look after children while plans are made for their future. Often the plan will be for the child to return to their birth family, and where this is not possible younger children will usually be adopted. If older children are not able to return to their birth families, then task centred foster carers will often look after them until they reach adulthood and can live independently.

Permanent

If the birth parents are not able to overcome their problems and to provide their children with a safe home that can meet their needs, the local authority must consider other ways of  providing the child with a permanent, happy and secure home. This may be a placement with an extended family member or a placement with a close friend of the family. In other cases this maybe permanent fostering.

Visit our permanent fostering page for more information.

Respite

Respite fostering is where foster carers provide very short periods of care for children who either live at home or with a foster carer. This will usually be a regular arrangement such as one weekend per month or up to two-week periods during holidays, or in other specific circumstances. Respite is usually agreed for more challenging, and often older children, so we particularly need respite carers who can look after teenagers.

Supported Lodgings

This scheme provides placements for young people aged 16-21 years (possibly older if in full time education) who are care leavers and defined as eligible. The scheme is similar to fostering, although the young people will be expected to mainly take responsibility for themselves. Supported lodgings providers are required to provide support to the young person with regard to budgeting, cooking, and other practical self-care skills, as well as advising them on personal and relationship issues.

Specialist Fostering Scheme

This scheme is intended for the more challenging young people. To apply for this scheme you must have at least one year's experience of working in a professional capacity with young people. Because of the amount of care, supervision and attention these young people need, one of the foster carers (if a couple) should not be working, or be willing to give up work when approved. Single applicants should also not be working, or be prepared to give up work when approved. In recognition of this challenging but rewarding task an allowance of £630 per week is paid to these specialist foster carers.

For further information about this scheme, please call 0800 085 7072.

Family and friends or kinship fostering

Where children who are looked after by a local authority are cared for by people they already know. This can be very beneficial for children, and is called "family and friends" or "kinship" fostering. If they are not looked after by the local authority, children can live with their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters or grandparents without outside involvement.

Private fostering

Where parents make an arrangement for their child to stay with someone else who is not a close relative and has no parental responsibilities, for a period of more than 27 days. Although this is a private arrangement, there are special rules about how the child is looked after. The local authority must be told about the arrangements and visit to check on the child's welfare.