Short-term Fostering
Short-term foster care is the most common type of fostering and is for children and young people who need to be looked after for a few weeks, months, or even up to 2 years while plans are made for their future.
What is short-term fostering?
Short-term fostering is for children and young people who need to be looked after in temporary foster care. It’s the most common type of foster care.
Short-term foster placements give foster parents the opportunity to support a child and really make a difference during a time of immense change in a young person’s life.
The need for short-term fostering
Usually, a child needs a short-term foster carer because their families are no longer able to look after them. Some of the reasons why a child or young person may need to go into short-term foster care include:
- Their parents or guardians are unwell.
- Their parents are finding it difficult to cope with caring for a child at this time.
- The child is waiting to be adopted.
- The family is going through care proceedings – so the child goes into foster care while decisions are made about who will look after them in the future.
- Their parents need a short break or respite, for example, if their child has a disability or complex health needs.
How short-term fostering differs from other types of fostering
Short-term fostering can range from just a single night to a few weeks, to several months, or even years. It all depends on the individual circumstances of the child and their family. Afterwards, the child might return to their own family or go into a longer fostering placement or become adopted.
Compared to other kinds of fostering, short-term foster parents often have higher levels of contact with the children’s birth family whilst assessments are underway, and can also be involved in introducing children to their new adoptive families.
Are you thinking of fostering?
Download FCA’s complete Beginner’s Guide to Fostering a Child. Find out more about how to foster a child and the process involved.
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
Allison’s fostering story
Allison, a foster parent from FCA, shares her fostering journey so far and what it’s like to foster while raising your own children.
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.
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