TYPES OF FOSTERING:

Permanent or Long-Term Fostering

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The foster family usually carers for the child until they reach adulthood.  At no point will foster carers

assume any legal responsibility for the child – this will always be held by the Local Authority and Birth

Parents.

Private Fostering

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When parents make an arrangement for their child to stay with someone (for 28 days or more) who is

not a close relative.  Social Services must be informed and will undertake checks to ensure that the

child is being cared for within a set of guidelines.

Short-Term Fostering

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Involves the carers looking after a child for a few weeks or months (sometimes longer) while permanent

plans are made for the child.

Emergency Foster Care

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Caring for children who need somewhere safe to stay immediately, usually for a few nights.

Short Break Care

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Usually involves children living with their own foster family and having short breaks with another foster

family.  This most often applies to children with a disability.

Remand Fostering

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Caring for young people who are ‘remanded’ by the court into the care of the local authority.

Kinship Care

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Children are cared for by people they already know – such as family, friends and other people

connected to them.

Parent & Child or Mother and Baby Care

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Usually involves carers looking after a parent and their child (often young mothers and their newborn

babies) and preparing them for the future.

Staying Put

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Staying Put is the arrangement whereby care leavers can choose to live with their foster carers beyond

the age of 18, and until they are 21 in some cases.