Short term foster care

Many children living with Kent County Council foster carers are in short term placements. This could be for a few weeks or several months. Some children may need the stability and care of foster carers while the child's family situation is assessed, presented to court and where plans need to be made to keep them safe.

Whatever the reason and whatever their age, all these children will be experiencing separation from familiar people and surroundings, they need understanding and care to help them cope. It will also be important for them to continue to attend school and to be prepared for their next move - either back to their own family or to an adoptive family.

The children in short-term foster care can be any age from birth to 18 years old.

Other types of foster care:

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