Foster care is a vital part of the social care system, providing a safe and supportive home for children and young people who cannot live with their birth families. This separation may be temporary or long-term, and can occur for a range of reasons – from neglect and abuse to parental illness, imprisonment, or bereavement.

At its core, foster care is about stability, care, and opportunity. It gives children the chance to feel secure, to continue their education, and to build positive relationships during what can be a very unsettling time in their lives.

Foster carers are individuals or families who open up their homes to look after these children. While carers do not have legal parental responsibility, they play a crucial role in a child’s day-to-day life – offering emotional support, setting routines, encouraging learning, and working closely with social workers and other professionals to achieve the best outcomes.

There are several different types of foster care, depending on the child’s circumstances:

  • Emergency placements for children needing immediate protection.
  • Short-term care while longer-term plans are developed.
  • Long-term placements for children who cannot return to their birth family.
  • Respite care to provide a short break for other foster families or birth parents.
  • Parent and child placements where foster carers support a young parent and their baby.
  • Specialist care for children with complex needs or disabilities.

Fostering is all about being a trusted adult who helps them feel safe, listened to, and respected. At Fostering2Inspire, we support our foster carers with training, 24/7 support, regular supervision, and access to a network of professionals and peers.

If you’ve ever wondered what foster care really means or whether you could be the person to offer a child a better future, we’d love to talk to you. Contact us now to find out more.