Different types of fostering

There are several different types of foster care so even if you only have a few hours a week to offer, fostering could still be for you.

Short term
The aim of short term fostering is to return the child to his or her own family as soon as possible. This can be anything from an overnight stay to several months.

Emergency
An emergency placement may be made when social workers feel it is essential to take the child away from a particular situation that is unsafe. A child or young person may come to you with no notice, and with little opportunity for you to gain information about his/her circumstances.

Long term
Long term foster carers offer children care and security in a family for as long as it is needed. Children in long term foster care can grow up to reach their potential and to keep in touch with their own families.

Shared care / Short break / Respite care
Shared care / Short Break / Respite foster care are terms to cover a variety of different types of part time care which maybe anything from a few hours each week to a weekend a month.