At Care Visions Fostering Scotland, we create positive environments in which fostering families can help children build confidence, for life.

Sadly, in Scotland, many children are unable to live with their families. For them, fostering provides a safe and stable home; helping them feel valued, ensuring their needs are met and giving them the best chance to develop.

Depending on the circumstances, there are a variety of levels of support that foster carers can provide children with, whether it be either short-term support or a long-term home.

We can define these as;

• Interim Care
• Long-term Care
• Permanence
• Short Break
• Emergency

Interim Placement

Life is full of challenges and this type of placement offers much needed relief from daily stresses for both children and their families until such times as they are able to return home or move to a longer-term placement.

Long-term Placement

When a child cannot return to their family, a long-term placement needs to be arranged. This can last for several years, and even become permanent if the circumstances are suitable. A long-term foster carer plays an extremely important role in a young person's development; providing support, guidance and love, to help them lead a confident and fulfilling adult life.  

Permanence

When a child cannot return home, the next best thing is to find them a family who they can remain with for the duration of their childhood and where they feel they belong. Foster carers offering Permanence have the same level of support from Care Visions Fostering Scotland, however they also have more say in decision-making about the child's life.  

Short Break

Some foster carers offer short break placements for children who might come and stay for a few days on all regular basis, or it may be a few weeks to help support the child or another foster carer.

Emergency Care

Sometimes, children require foster care at short notice, either until an ideal placement can be found, or until they return to their family. Emergency care ranges from one night to a few weeks, providing immediate reassurance and support.

If you're thinking about becoming a foster carer, but aren't sure of what the process entails, have a look at our 'Fostering Journey' graphic below. It provides some insight into the turns of the fostering journey and what to expect at each stage.

"A typical fostering journey"