Respite foster care

• Some need regular breaks from home, for a few days at a time, to enable them to manage to live with their own family for the rest of the time.
• Others may be in short or long-term foster placements, with carers who need some time to re-charge their energy reserves as the children may be challenging or tiring to look after.
• Young people or children may be awaiting a school place and need outside activities to enable them to stay stimulated and motivated until a suitable school is located.

What are the benefits?

• You can continue to work on a full or part-time basis and still make a difference to the life of a child.
• Respite placements can be great fun, for carers and children alike, giving the children a chance to increase their social circle by meeting new people and having fresh experiences.
• Short-break care can have a major impact to a child's overall situation, it can sometimes enable them to remain with their families and keep them from being placed into long-term fostering.
• This flexible care gives you an opportunity to share your parenting skills, family life and activities with a young person, enriching their lives, building their self-esteem and confidence.
• Respite carers provide valued support for parents or long-term carers of foster children.
• You will play an important role in the child's life, building relationships with them and improving their well-being by offering adult support and being interested in their progress.

What is involved?

• Caring, flexible people with energy and enthusiasm are needed for this vital role.
• Respite carers will work as part of team with the children's parents and full-time foster carers to follow a shared plan to ensure a consistency of care in the child's life.
• Children needing respite fostering can be any age from one year to 17 years old, but will more than likely be of school age or above.
• Are you able to offer your free time on a regular basis at weekends, mid-week breaks and/or holidays? You can define the amount but it is helpful for placement planning, if you are willing to agree your commitment in advance.
• Do you have at least one spare bedroom, to allow the children to have their own safe space?

Can you help?

Respite care is an important service for the families concerned - but we always have children needing respite as demand is high. If you have the qualities needed and are interested in joining this crucial pool of respite foster carers, please contact us on 0845 330 2968 to find out more and we will be happy to answer your enquiries.

Other types of foster care:

• Short-term foster care
• Long-term foster care
• Day foster care
• Special needs foster care
• Respite foster care for children with disabilities
• Parent and child foster care
• Concurrency
• 16Plus
• Specialist schemes