Types of Solihull foster carer
Foster carers come in all shapes and sizes, reflecting Solihull’s children in need of a loving home, whether that’s for a few months or several years.
Fostering provides a home for children and young people who can no longer be cared for by their parents. There are many different types of fostering depending on the needs of the child or young person.
A foster carer may be there to care for a child in an emergency, or they may provide a long-term home for the remainder of a child’s time in care. Either way, you could be there with them for some of the most important milestones of their life.
There are many different types of foster care to meet the needs of children across the West Midlands, which include:
As foster carers, we do the amazing job of being that secure base for children whilst families can repair and hopefully be reunited
Samantha, Foster Carer
Short-term foster care
Short-term foster carers will look after a child until decisions are made for their future, ranging from an overnight stay to a period up to 2 years.
A short-term foster carer gives young people in unsettled situations the security they need at the time they need it most. Sometimes the child can be reunited with their birth family, or they may go on to be adopted.
Long-term foster care
Children who cannot return to their birth families may move into long-term foster care, if this is deemed the right decision for the child and their future. Foster carers who care for children on a long-term basis will provide a safe and loving home for children until they reach adulthood.
Unlike adoption, the legal responsibility for the child or young person will remain with the local authority, and the child may still have contact with their birth parents. A key responsibility for all long-term carers is supporting this contact, with the help of our fostering team.
“This is their home, we’re their family.” - Jo, foster carer.
Other types of foster care
Respite foster care
Respite foster carers provide essential support over short periods to birth families and other foster carers on a part-time basis.
Often looking after children on evenings, weekends and during school holidays for up to 2 weeks at a time, respite carers give children in care some time away from their home so they can have new experiences with a carer they know and trust. Respite carers have contact with the foster carer and are fully informed about the individual child’s needs.
Short breaks foster care
Short breaks foster carers offer regular, planned and ongoing support to children who have a disability and their families.
This can be over weekends or during school holidays on a part-time basis. A child might stay with a short breaks carer for one or two nights a month.
Our short breaks carers often build a strong relationship with a young person and their family over many years and become part of the extended family.
Emergency foster care
Some children need to be looked after with very short notice, at any time of day or night. Emergency foster carers offer essential flexibility and support to young people when they need it most, with very little planning or preparation.
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Carers who foster on an emergency basis will look after the child until further plans are made for their future.
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Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC)
This specialised type of fostering provides care to refugee and unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC).
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Speaking little or no English, many of these children and young people arrive in the UK traumatised and disorientated. They may have travelled for many months before arriving here, often fleeing war and persecution.
A great deal of sensitivity, patience and understanding is required from UASC foster carers. Their role is to prepare the youngsters who are often in their mid to late teens, for independent living, in addition to supporting their emotional and cultural needs.
The fostering team provides specialist training and support for this type of fostering in order to equip carers with skills to help the young people settle and integrate.