Respite foster care is a short-term placement in which the child is placed with a foster family to provide respite to either the parents or current carers.
Respite fostering, otherwise known as 'Planned Breaks' for children in care, are short breaks for both parents/carers and children in care. From as short as a weekend to a week or longer, planned breaks can become part of a regular routine for the children in care.
As a respite foster carer, placements can vary depending on each family's unique circumstances. However, as a foster care with Capstone Foster Care, you will also have access to our respite families if you require any planned breaks. All of Capstone’s foster carers are entitled to a 14-day “respite allowance” should they need it, so demand for specialist respite carers is just as important to us as recruiting for standard foster carers.
Families who need respite care often seek support because of the level of care the child needs. A child with disabilities, special educational or therapeutic needs, may need a great deal of care and attention, regardless of their age. A short-term change in routine, such as a planned break, allows both the carers and the children to have a rest. The carers can recharge their batteries, while the child can enjoy new opportunities and experiences without too much disruption to their routine.
Are you considering becoming a respite foster carer? Depending upon the experience you have as a foster carer, you may find respite care more or less demanding than other types of foster care. If respite care for children is the only type of foster care you are involved with, you will also have your own, scheduled breaks between placements. As a respite foster carer, you have the freedom to plan your schedule to fit around respite care placements.
While it is easier to plan your time around placements in respite care, the demands of looking after a child with special needs can be quite intense. Whether the child needs attention for physical needs or for emotional needs, as a respite foster carer, you must be available to attend to these needs at all times.
It’s advised that the same family should provide respite foster care for children with regularly scheduled short breaks. The benefit is that it is less distressing for a child who may find change upsetting. In turn, less time is spent focusing on the transition, and more time is spent welcoming the child back into the respite foster home for their short break.
Respite foster care also provides benefits for parents, too. Some of the benefits of respite care for parents include:
Here at Capstone Foster Care, we are always interested in finding people who are interested in providing respite care. We are always in need of foster parents who are willing and able to provide short breaks for foster carers. By becoming a respite foster carer with Capstone, you will receive extensive foster care training and support to ensure you become the best foster carer you can be. We’re always on hand to help you - our friendly team offer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So you can rest assured - you’re in safe hands as a member of the Capstone family.
It's important to note that here at Capstone, we do not generally recruit solely respite carers. As part of your fostering career with us, you will have opportunities to support other carers by taking part in respite foster care – but your role at Capstone will likely be more of a generalised foster carer role, rather than a specific respite fostering role.
For more information about respite foster care and planned breaks, fostering pay, or how to become a foster carer, get in touch with us today.
If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Capstone, fill out the form below.
An experienced fostering advisor from your local area will then be in touch.
Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you.
