The majority of looked after children where possible are placed
with Kent approved foster carers. Occasionally children need more
specialist care than a family can offer. In these instances a child
could be looked after in a residential placement. It is
possible that children are looked after while living with their
parents, extended family or friends.
We encourage children to have contact with their families when
it is in their best interests, and wherever possible we will try to
return a child to the care of their family, extended family or
friends. For a small number of children this may not be possible
and we would then work to give these children the security of
living in a permanent substitute family. A fostering social
worker would be involved, please view the role of a fostering social
worker for more details.