Fostering in Harrow

Children come into care for many different reasons. Sometimes it is because of a parent's short-term illness or a temporary problem within the family that requires the children to have alternative care.

Some have experienced domestic abuse, substance misuse, abuse or neglect. For many children and young people, fostering is often their first positive experience of family life.

• Fostering involves looking after someone else's child in your own home whilst they are unable to live with their own family.
• It offers children and young people a safe and caring environment, usually geographically close to their home, to allow them to thrive and develop.
• There are many different types of fostering depending on the needs of the child or young person.
• Foster carers may help children and young people come to terms with difficult issues.
• Foster carers may take children to and/or collect them from supervised contact.
• Foster carers work as part of a professional network in supporting the child or young person.
• Fostering can be challenging at times, but it can also be a deeply rewarding experience.

Types of fostering

There are different types of foster care, from an overnight stay, a short-break or something more long-term, but they all provide a home and a safe space where children can grow.

We offer many different options for foster care, so you can find one that best fits your experience, preference, and circumstances.

We can help you decide on the type of fostering that is best for you and your household.

Short-term foster care

As a short-term foster carer, you can offer placements for a few days, weeks or a few years dependent on the Local Authority you are fostering with.

We look for short-term foster care when parents are unable to care for their child on a temporary basis. Children may come into short term foster care while parental assessments are carried out or longer-term care plans are made.

In some instances, short-term care can lead to long term or permanent arrangements to give children a sense of stability and support.

Long-term foster care

Long-term fostering is where a foster carer agrees to care for a child or children for long periods, often into adulthood. Children benefit from greater stability from a young age right through to the age of 18 and beyond, where possible.

Some children may need to be looked after permanently (until adulthood) without being legally adopted. This may be because they are unable to live with their birth family for practical reasons but wish to remain in close contact with their parents. In this case, we would look for permanent foster care. For some, it will be their first experience of a stable and caring family life.

Parent and child fostering

Parent and child foster carers provide a family environment of support and nurture for a parent and their child. Parent and child foster carers help parents to develop confidence in their parenting skills in a safe environment.

The primary focus of the foster carer is to help the parent and child to stay together as a family. Foster carers do this by helping with parenting tasks as well as supporting the parent in developing the necessary skills to care for their child on their own in the future.

Parent and child foster carers are paid a weekly fee and allowance dependent on the legal status of the child and the parent. You'll need to complete additional training to be a parent and child foster carer.

Respite fostering

Respite care is sometimes known as short break care. This type of fostering allows foster families and birth families who are in need of extra support a 'break' for a short period of time. This could be from a few hours each week to a couple of weekends each month depending on the needs of the family.

Respite fostering gives families the chance to stay together and a much-needed opportunity to rest. This type of care often involves families with a child who has a disability or additional needs.

Usually, children and young people from families who need respite foster care are linked to a foster carer - a familiar face who can provide regular periods of respite whilst enabling the child or young person to build a trusted relationship with the carer.

Specialist

Specialist foster carers look after children and young people with very complicated needs and challenging behaviour. These children might have experienced a lot of trauma and not be used to normal routines or going to school regularly. Specialist foster carers will have significant previous experience working with children or young people to bring about positive changes in their lives. These carers cannot be doing any other work while fostering and are paid a higher rate.