Respite Foster Care - Foster Care Associates

What is respite fostering?

Providing respite care for foster parents and birth families allows them to take an essential break from childcare if and when needed. If foster families are experiencing a highly challenging time or if a birth family has a child with disabilities, they may need to take a short break to recharge. This time off allows them to return to their caregiving roles refreshed and ready to provide the best care possible.

Respite fostering is like being part of an extended family. It usually lasts a few days to a week and often happens during the weekends and school holidays. Occasionally, a plan for regular ongoing respite will be established, and you’ll care for the same child every few weeks.

When planning respite foster care, the child’s well-being and needs are always our top priority. We’ll work with you and the local authority to ensure that arrangements for respite care are suitable for everyone involved.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about fostering, please get in touch with our team and we’ll be happy to help.

Benefits of respite fostering

As well as the knowledge that you’re helping support a foster family or birth family, there are many other benefits that respite foster care can offer, including:

You’ll be an additional positive role model for a foster child, potentially helping them trust other adults.
Every foster parent has different skill sets and qualities. So, introducing respite foster parents into a child or young person’s life will give them new experiences, supporting their development.
If you can’t commit to short-term or long-term fostering at the moment, you can still make a real difference as a respite foster parent.
You’ll receive ongoing foster care training – plus generous fostering payments – and have opportunities for professional development.
Our events, activities and support groups give your whole family the opportunity to connect with like-minded people and make meaningful new friendships.

Gain insight into the world of fostering and discover whether fostering is a potential career for you.

Enquire now

How to become a Respite foster parent

Respite foster carers are essential for ensuring that longer-term fostering placements last. When you foster with us, you’ll receive the same support and training as our full-time foster parents. You’ll also become part of our Team Parenting community, a support network of fostering professionals dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of children and young people every day.

To become a respite foster parent, you must:

Be over 21 years of age.
Have a spare bedroom.
Be a British citizen or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Be able to provide a welcoming, nurturing and safe home.

If you meet these initial requirements, why not come along to one of our information events where you’ll learn more about a foster parent’s role and the application process?

FIND AN UPCOMING EVENT

Respite fostering payments

Finances matter, so if you become a respite foster parent, you’ll receive a generous fostering allowance along with additional perks. Part of the fostering allowance will cover the costs of caring for a child, such as food, clothing and toiletries. The second part of the fostering allowance recognises your commitment to providing young people with a nurturing home when their families need to recharge.

Additional perks include:

Winter and summer bonus.
Savings and discounts for hundreds of popular retailers, restaurants and holidays on our rewards platform.
Yearly appreciation events.
Personalised gift or experience for every milestone you reach.
Monthly prizes and recognition awards.
Family activities and events.
Exciting reward scheme for referring other families to foster with FCA.

Find out more about our allowances

Other types of fostering

From helping a young person with the transition from residential care to providing a foster child with a caring family environment for several years, we have many foster parenting options available.

View fostering types

Benefits of working with FCA

24/7 advice service

Excellent ongoing training

Access to your local fostering team

Competitive allowances

Local support groups

Local social activities and events

Get in touch

Whether you’re ready to apply or just want a bit more information, get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.

Enquiry Form

You are required to have a spare bedroom that’s always available to a foster child. The spare room cannot be shared, and must be big enough to fit a single bed, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.

Do you have a spare room?*

To be approved as a foster carer in the UK, you must be a British citizen or have the legal right to remain in the UK without restrictions that would prevent fostering.

Which of the following applies to you?*

How can we help you with your enquiry?*

The following questions are intended to help us understand your experience with children. Please note that prior experience is not required to become a foster carer, as full training will be provided.

Have you had children of your own?*

Do you have professional experience of working with children?*

Have you had any prior experience of fostering, such as being a foster parent or growing up in a fostering family?*

Have you ever adopted a child?*

Are you happy to receive regular fostering news from us?*

Yes

No

First Name*

Last Name*

Phone Number*

Email Address*

Postcode*