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Remand foster care

image: Remand foster carer with young man

Remand foster care

Remand fostering provides short-term care for young people awaiting sentencing in youth justice courts. The foster carers involved are specially trained by the Kent Youth Offending Service and work in close partnership with that team and the courts.

Young people can gain greatly from:

  • short periods of focused support
  • living in a family within the community
  • being fed and listened to
  • being supported through the stress of court appearances
  • encouragement to aim for a better life

In the long term this can greatly strengthen their prospects for a more positive future. If the care placement is successful it will, for some of the young people, be the only recent achievement they have enjoyed.

This experience will:

  • boost their self-confidence and morale
  • help them avoid re-offending during their remand stage
  • enable them to value and recognise their personal skills
  • support them during their court hearings and in the periods in between.

Most importantly

Without specialist remand foster care the young person may be held in a secure unit or young offenders' institution while awaiting sentence. At this is a crucial point in a young person's life a placement with an understanding carer or couple can be the significant factor that prevents them following a wrong route in life.

This article gives an insight into the impact remand carers can make with a young person: A day in the life of a remand carer.

The kind of qualities we are looking for include:

  • an ability to be a role model, setting an example in language and behaviour
  • an ability to set firm boundaries.

Ideal applicants are mature couples whose own children are now young adults or people who have experience and an understanding of working with young people.

Kent offers an enhanced rate of pay in recognition of the challenges of this kind of care. If you feel you have the qualities we need and would like to find out more please ring one of our advisors who will be pleased to assist on 0845 330 2968.

Other specialist care schemes:

share the experience, phone 0845 330 2968

Copyright Kent County Council 2009