Foster Care Fortnight Day 7: Types of Fostering

Fostering isn’t a one-size-fits-all arrangement. Children and young people in care come from diverse backgrounds and have different needs—emotional, physical, and practical. That’s why fostering in the UK is offered in a range of types, each designed to provide the right support for both children and their foster families.

Whether you’re considering becoming a foster carer or simply want to understand more about how fostering works, here’s a clear guide to the different types of fostering available across the UK.

1. Short-Term Fostering

Short-term fostering provides temporary care for children while longer-term decisions are made about their future. These placements can last from a few days to several months, and are often used when children are removed from their homes due to immediate concerns. The goal is usually to return them to their birth family or move them into a more permanent arrangement.

2. Long-Term Fostering

When returning home isn’t an option, long-term fostering offers children a stable, secure home environment – often until they reach adulthood. This type of fostering allows deep, lasting bonds to form, and provides children with the continuity and care they need to thrive.

3. Emergency Fostering

Emergency foster carers provide immediate care for children who need a safe place to stay at very short notice. These situations often arise due to family breakdowns, domestic abuse, or sudden illness. Emergency placements are typically short but critical in helping a child feel safe during a crisis.

4. Respite Fostering

Respite fostering gives full-time foster carers (or birth families with children who have additional needs) a short, planned break. It also offers children a change of environment and the opportunity to build trust with another trusted adult. These placements are often weekend stays or short holidays.

5. Parent and Child Fostering

This unique type of fostering involves caring for a young parent (usually a mother) and their baby. The foster carer supports the parent in developing their parenting skills in a safe, nurturing environment. The aim is to help keep families together by giving parents the tools they need to care for their children.

6. Specialist Fostering

Specialist fostering is designed for children and young people with complex needs—such as physical or learning disabilities, mental health challenges, or behavioural issues due to trauma or neglect. Carers receive extra training and support to help them meet these needs effectively.

7. Remand Fostering

This type of fostering is for young people who have been remanded by a court to live in foster care while awaiting legal proceedings. It’s an alternative to custody and aims to provide a structured, supportive environment to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

8. Fostering for Adoption

Also known as “early permanence,” this involves fostering a child with the intention of adopting them if reunification with their birth family is not possible. This approach reduces the number of moves a child experiences and helps establish early, stable bonds.

9. Private Fostering

Private fostering occurs when a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) lives with someone who is not a close relative for more than 28 days, arranged privately by the child’s parents. Although it isn’t arranged by the local authority, the local council must be notified and has a legal duty to ensure the arrangement is safe.

10. Kinship Care

Also called “family and friends fostering,” kinship care happens when a child is looked after by someone they already know—such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older sibling. This can be formal (through the fostering system) or informal (arranged privately within the family).

11. Supported Lodgings

Supported lodgings are for young people aged 16 to 21 who are preparing to live independently. Carers provide a room in their home, along with guidance and emotional support, while encouraging independence in areas like budgeting, cooking, and finding employment or education.

Final Thoughts

Each type of fostering plays a vital role in supporting children and families across the UK. While the needs and situations vary, the goal is always the same: to provide a safe, stable, and loving environment where children and young people can feel secure and grow with confidence.

If you’re considering fostering, understanding the different types can help you find the path that’s right for your household and lifestyle. Whether you’re drawn to short-term care or want to support a young parent, there’s a way for you to make a meaningful difference.

Enquire about fostering with Beacon Fostering here.