What is fostering?

Unplanned emergency placements can be for a few days whilst a more permanent placement is sought or perhaps a child has a single parent who is ill or hospitalised and they have no support network.

Respite placements are provided to give Foster Carers or parents a break.  Our Foster Carers are entitled to 14 nights respite each year and this provision is covered within the agency with the aim of children and young people spending time with people known to them in the same way that children living with their own families might spend time with extended family members.

Short-term fostering can be for a few days, weeks or months, up to two years whilst the local authority makes plans for the child’s future.

Long term placements offer a stable family life for children and these placements are where adoption is not an option (usually because it is important that the child maintains contact with their birth family members or the child is over the age where they would be likely to get adopted ).   In long term foster care, Foster Carers care for the child up to adulthood and beyond.   

We recruit Foster Carers from diverse backgrounds who are willing to support and care for unaccompanied children and young people from outside the UK.

We need carers with the skills and suitable home environment to care for sibling groups.   We believe it is very important to keep siblings together wherever possible unless it has been assessed that this would be detrimental to the children.

P&C placements offer a home to a young parent (usually the mother) and their child.   The parent may have grown up in the care environment and may have little family support.   They require support and guidance whilst learning how to safely parent their child.    Additional training is required for this role.