It’s important to note that no type of placement is “better” than another - whether a child is in long or short-term care ultimately depends on what is in their best interests (depending on their individual needs and circumstances). You may find a short term placement is a more suitable option for you and your family depending on what your capacity is in terms of care provision.
Short term or “interim” placements are the most common type of foster care and can last from a few weeks up to 2 years. In general, the goal of short term fostering is to provide a safe, nurturing home for a child in need until they are able to return to their birth family, with whom a Foster Carer would maintain contact throughout the placement.
The reasons a child might need short term care vary and might involve:
• A period of Assessment where the child can be looked after safely while the Professionals involved eg Social Services/Health work with birth families to help them address any issues which have impacted their ability to parent.
• Providing respite for parents of disabled children or a child with complex health needs, or for parents who are finding it too difficult to cope with childcare at this particular time.
Offering interim care for a child awaiting a permanent placement or moving to Adoption.
• Caring for a child while their parents are engaged in legal proceedings to assess and determine which of their birth parents/family members will look after them in future.
• Caring for a child while one or both of their parents (or guardians) are unwell.
What Other Outcomes are There for Short Term Placements?
While the main focus of foster care is to reconnect children and young people with their families, every situation is different and this may not always be the case.
In some circumstances, children who have been placed on a short term basis may go on to need this on a longer-term basis, therefore it can be helpful to see that on occasion short term can evolve into a long term arrangement in effect a continuum of care. If you are a foster carer and this situation is becoming a clear possibility then we will ensure that you are happy to continue to care for the child/ren and that you have the supports in place to allow you to do that.
What is the Financial Allowance For Short Term / Interim Foster Carers?
Foster Carers receive an allowance for each child they foster. Payments are made up of a Professional fee for the Foster carer and an allowance for the child/children they look after. On average, for a child placed with an approved Foster Carer, the combined fees and allowances per annum would be around £25,500 (£490 per week) - This may vary dependent on the age of children, in relation to maintenance payments. More info on Fees and Allowances is available on this page.
What does Fostering do?
At Care Visions Fostering Scotland, we pride ourselves on being child-centred in our approach. We work with fantastic Foster Carers to create positive, supportive environments that can help children and young people thrive and reach their potential. It is currently the case that many children and young people are unable to live with their birth families, for a number of reasons. For this group, fostering can provide a safe and stable environment that helps meet their needs.
Depending on the circumstances, there are different levels of support that a Foster Carers can provide children with, this could range from short-term care or a longer-term home.
Training
Training begins with the 'Skills To Foster' workshop. This session gives those at the early stages of their fostering journey a good idea of the 'ins and outs' of what is involved and what it might mean for you and your family.
On approval, we provide further training for all our foster carers. This would happen before, the matching process and a child being placed in your care. We have further specialist training that helps you better understand the impact of Trauma and provides valuable strategies when working with and caring for children. Induction training, consisting of modules in Attachment, Safer Caring, Introduction to Child Protection, Recording and First Aid, is completed within a Foster Carer’s first year.
Rewards
Foster Carers are eligible to be part of our Benefits Platform that gives them discounts and deals from a wide range of major brands and retailers. The brands and types of discounts available change throughout the year. Here are just some top names that we have been able to offer discounts from on our Benefits Platform:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can become a Foster Carer?
We welcome enquiries from all UK Residents, living in Scotland, over the age of 25, with a spare room. Applicants can be single or in a couple, have children or not. We welcome contact from people from all ethnic backgrounds and LGBTQ+ individuals or couples. In fostering, you can own your home or rent your property (in the latter case you may need permission from the owner/landlord).
Do I need to give up work?
There are options for those that wish to Foster Full time and those that might wish to continue working. If the latter applies to you, Short-Break Care can work around weekends, days off and holiday periods.
How long will the assessment process take?
For new Foster Carers, the assessment process takes around twenty weeks from allocation to your panel date. You are, of course, entitled to withdraw at any time.
How many children can I foster?
Regulations state that Foster Carers can foster up to three unrelated children, with the exception being emergency placements and sibling groups. There will be discussions on the number of and age range of children you may be able to foster during the assessment period.
I am currently a foster carer, can I also foster with Care Visions?
Foster carers can only be registered with one agency or local council at once, meaning that if you are currently registered elsewhere, it wouldn't be possible to register with us at the same time. We do however support existing foster carers to transfer. More information on this page. We also welcome enquiries from those who have previously fostered, and will work with you to more as quickly through the process as possible based on your experience.
How fast can I become a foster parent?
The assessment process usually takes around twenty weeks, however, we will help get you through the process at a pace you feel comfortable with. For those that wish to reach their goal of fostering quicker, we are happy to communicate with you more regularly. This is so we can help you through the process as speedily as possible.
Can I foster if I’m not a British/UK National?
Yes we welcome enquiries from anybody who has permanent residence in the UK.
Can I foster if I’m from a military family?
Yes, we welcome enquiries from military families. Please contact us so we can best assist. There will be consideration of factors, including how long you will be residing in Scotland.
Get Your FREE foster carer info pack!
You will get access to a link for your free info pack on completion of your enquiry form and we will also email over a copy to help you on your journey. Care Visions Fostering Scotland look to help you to decide if fostering is for you. There is never any obligation to foster from making an enquiry and speaking with us, we would just love to help assist you in your journey. Why not get in touch today?
