One of the most common types of foster care is short-term foster care, also known as temporary foster care.
Short term fostering placements provide a child or young person with a safe environment on a temporary basis. After this, they can return to their family home and birth parents. Alternatively, if the option of returning the child in care back to their birth family isn’t possible, a foster family will provide short term foster care until a more long-term arrangement – such as adoption – can be arranged.
A short term fostering placement can last anywhere between a few days, a few weeks, and in some cases, even a few months. As a short term foster carer, it’s likely you’ll be required to take care of a young child at short notice. It’s not always clear how long your short term foster placement will last, as this depends entirely on the needs and requirements of the child in care, so it’s important you are flexible and able to respond to urgent requirements.
Short term foster care often begins as emergency fostering. The need for emergency fostering occurs for a number of reasons, such as family illness or an accident in the home, which results in children needing immediate placement and care.
Respite foster care, otherwise known as 'Planned Breaks' is another type of short term fostering. Respite foster care is there to provide a short break for both carers and foster children, which can last for a weekend, a week or in some cases, longer. In a family, children can have an overnight stay with grandparents or a holiday visit with an aunt, uncle, and cousins. This gives both the child and the parents a break from each other, as well as allowing the child to have a different experience in their world. Respite care can provide a similar experience for a child or young person in care. This is typically a pre-arranged placement and ideally, it’s part of an ongoing agreement to provide regular planned breaks for continuity in the child’s life.
With remand foster care, the young person in care is on remand and, rather than being entered into a custody arrangement, there is the option to be placed with a foster carer. As a remand foster carer, you will have the special skills needed to support the young person through this difficult part of life.
Learn more about the different types of foster care.
With temporary foster care, the child is often aware that this is a stepping stone towards a more permanent placement. This knowledge can create an atmosphere in the child’s mind that can add insecurity to an already chaotic situation. That’s why, as a short term foster carer, you’ll need to have patience, be able to nurture children and young people and provide the stability of a stable home on a short term basis.
How much foster carers get paid often depends on a number of factors such as the type of foster care, the needs of the child or young person and geographical location. Learn more about how much foster carers get paid including specific rates.
If you would like to register your interest in short term fostering, or simply talk to someone further, please contact Capstone Foster Care – or call us on 0800 012 4004. Our dedicated team are always on hand to provide you with information and advice.
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.
