These foster carers look after children on a temporary basis. The period of time varies according to a child's particular circumstances but can range from a few weeks to over a year.
Some children will be looked after with the agreement of their parents and will return home once a family crisis has resolved, for example, a parent being admitted to hospital with mental health difficulties or a parent needing to stay at a detoxification unit to tackle their abuse of alcohol.
In other circumstances there may be such concerns about a child's welfare that a court makes the decision that a child needs to be removed from their own family. Ultimately the Court will then decide whether the child can return home or should live with a member of the extended family, be cared for by foster carers or be placed with an adoptive family.
The need for care often arises at short notice, in an emergency. Looking after children and young people at a time of crisis takes a special kind of caring as children are likely to be upset, confused or angry about what is happening to them. The child may have been neglected or abused. The foster carer has a vital role to play by making the child feel at ease and safe, by working with the birth parents and making contact possible when that is appropriate and by co-operating with the future planning for the child.
Foster carers are also needed who could foster a pregnant teenage girl and support her until she can be independent with her baby.
