Types of foster care

There are many types of foster care:

• Many children in Kent are in short term placements, sometimes for only a few weeks or a few months, while a family issue is resolved.
• Long-term foster care provides stability for children unable to return to their own families.
• Foster care for older children: we are actively recruiting carers 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 and would like to find out more, our advisors would be pleased to hear from you.
• Foster care of babies and under two's.
• Day foster care for children needing support.
• Special needs foster care for children with physical or learning disabilities.
• Respite Foster care for foster children.
• Short Break foster care gives disabled children and their families a short break.
• Parent and child foster care involves having a mother or father with their child living in your home for a time of assessment.
• 16Plus care provides 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. 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.  This makes sure that the proper assessments are made, the new carers are suitable and the child's best interests are considered.