Fostering is about providing a home for a child or young person who is unable to remain with their own family for any number of reasons.  There are several different types of fostering which are designed to meet the varying needs of the children concerned.

Long-Term Fostering
This is where you take on long term responsibility for a child who is unable to live with his/her birth family. The child could be with you until the age of 16 or 18; whenever he/she is ready to live independently. You will play an important role in nurturing the child throughout their childhood and preparing them for adulthood.  He/she is likely to have contact with members of his/her family, so you will need to assist and support this. 

Short-Break or Respite Fostering
This is when you look after a child on a regular basis – for example two weekends a month or during holiday periods – in order to give the child new experiences and to provide a break for their parents or long-term carers. There is a great need for short break carers who can offer breaks to children with disabilities.

Short-Term Fostering
This is where you care for a child for a period of time – from weeks to months, sometimes up to a year, while plans are being made for their long term future.

They will become part of your family for the time they are with you, but you will always know they will be moving on – maybe back to their parents, maybe to a long term family.

Children coming into short-term care tend to do so in emergency situations so you will need to be able to respond quickly.