The different types of fostering
Our foster carers are as different as the children and young people they foster.
Fostering provides a home for children and young people who can no longer be cared for by their parents or family.
There are many different types of fostering depending on the needs of the child or young person. Find out more about:
- Short-term foster care
- Long-term foster care
- Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC)
- Private fostering
- Short breaks fostering
Short-term foster care
Short-term foster care is for children and young people in our care who need a temporary place to stay before returning to their families or moving into longer term fostering or adoption.
It can range from a one night stay to up to two years while the local authority assesses what the best next steps are for the child’s future.
Long-term foster care
If children and young people are not able to live with their families for a longer period of time, long-term fostering offers them a stable home, often lasting until they are 18, or even older.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC)
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) are children and young people who have been separated from their parents or carers and are seeking asylum in the UK.
Many young people will have travelled to the UK to flee war, political violence, exploitation and abuse. These young people are cared for by a local authority while their asylum claim is processed. Our foster carers look after the children in a short- or long-term basis.
Private fostering
Private fostering is the term used when someone who is not a parent or a close relative (for example a great aunt, a cousin, a family friend or neighbour) is looking after a child or young person under the age of 16 (under 18 if they are disabled) for 28 days or more in their own home.
Short breaks fostering
Short breaks foster carers provide regular overnight care to children and young people with disabilities in York.
If you can’t commit to full time fostering, but want to give something back to your community, short breaks foster care for children with disabilities can be a great option.
You don't need formal qualifications to become a short break foster carer for disabled children, but you should:
- understand and like children
- have plenty of common sense
- demonstrate patience
- show willingness to learn
- have a sense of humour
- be flexible and adapt to different situations
You need to be able to commit for a minimum of 2 to 3 years, and to be able to offer overnight stays. It would be very useful to have experience of caring for a child or young person with a disability.
To care for a child from another family you must be willing to work in partnership with the child's family and Children's Services.
Contact us about Short Break Fostering.
Fees calculator
Our fees calculator will give you an estimate of the level of payment you might receive.
Fees calculator