Mainstream fostering

The task of foster care is becomingly increasingly specialised and the terms we use to describe the tasks our carers do, reflects this.

Foster carers are approved according to certain categories, depending on the type of care they offer and to reflect their skills and experience we have identified through the assessment profile. This approval may change during your fostering career, as you develop in your role or as your family circumstances change.

All carers will be given an approval category to reflect the tasks they are competent to undertake.

Short Term (task focused) foster care

Where children and young people are likely to return home to their birth family and a short period of carer (up to 3 months) is needed. For example:

provide family members with respite during short periods of family crisis
provide a bridge to adoption and other placements
provide a bridge to independence
provide breaks for other carers

Intermediate (task focused) foster care

Where children and young people are likely to return home to their birth family or some other form of permanent family but progress to achieve this will take some time. For example:

providing a bridge to adoption or other placements
providing a bridge to independence
parent and baby assessments
specialist schemes such as Contract Care

Permanent Fostering

For children who cannot return to birth family and need a foster family over a considerable period of time and for some permanently where adoption or other legal solutions are not considered appropriated or achievable.

Link Care

Where children and young people with disabilities are looked after for planned, short periods of time, as a support to a birth parent (Regulation 37).