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Types of foster care

image: young girl smiling There are many types of foster care placements to meet the individual needs of children.


Many children living with Kent County Council foster carers are in relatively short term placements, sometimes for only a few weeks or a few months, while a family issue is resolved.

Other types of fostering include:

Long-term foster care
This is for children unable to return to their own families and provides stability for them.

Foster care for older children

We are actively recruiting for carers willing to care for young people. We are keen to increase the number of carers in Kent who would like to offer support to adolescents.

If you have an interest in this field and would like to find out more, our Advisors would be pleased to hear from you.

Foster care of babies and under two's

Providing care for very young children

Day foster care
For children needing support

Special needs foster care
For children with physical or learning disabilities

Respite foster care
Short breaks support for foster children

Respite foster care for children with disabilities
A scheme to give children with disabilities and their families a short break

Parent and child foster care
This involves having a mother or father with their child living in your home for a time of assessment

Concurrency
Concurrency is the care of a very young child, with a view to possible later adoption

16Plus
Provision of supportive lodgings for young people leaving care

There are also specialist schemes providing care for vulnerable children and young people.

Some children are fostered privately, by non-relatives or friends of their parents. Unlike mainstream carers, private foster carers are often untrained. Although the initial arrangements are usually made directly by those involved, it is a legal requirement that the local authority's social services department is informed promptly so that proper assessments are made to ensure the new carers are suitable and that the child's best interests will be considered.

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