Types of fostering
Children who need foster care need homes for all different
lengths of time. 
We have a variety of fostering schemes available
which allows us to match children to the most suitable
carers. It also gives you options to choose a scheme
which best suits you.
On this page you'll find information on:
Short break fostering
Many people say they’d like to foster but are unable to commit
to looking after a child on a full time basis due to work, family
or other commitments. Short break fostering, also known as respite
foster care, enables people to get involved by fostering on a part
time basis.
You’ll look after a child or young person for short breaks over
a set time. For example, a child will stay with you on a regular
basis for perhaps a few nights or one weekend a month.
Or it could be that you look after a child as a one off for a
couple of days to cover an emergency situation.
Short break care helps families who are experiencing
difficulties at home by giving the children and parents a
break.
Temporary fostering
This type of fostering is providing short term care to a child
or young person by looking after them for anything from a few days,
up to a couple of years.
You’ll be looking after children whose own families are
experiencing difficulties. If their family situation can be sorted,
the child will move back home. Or if this is not possible, they may
move on to long term foster care or adoption.
For a young person who is reaching an age where they can live
independently, you may help them in preparing for this.
Long-term fostering
When children are unable to return home to their families and
adoption isn’t an option, they stay with long term foster carers
until they reach an age where they can live independently.
As a long term foster carer, you’ll play a vital role in
preparing children or young people for adulthood and will help them
with life skills such as budgeting, cooking and with their
education.
Multi-link fostering 
Multi-link foster carers are contracted for 210 nights a year to
look after children with disabilities for agreed short breaks.
You’ll be linked with 6-8 children who will stay with you for up
to 24 nights each, per year, on a rota basis.
Caring for children with complex needs can be extremely
challenging but don’t worry, you'll not be alone. You’ll receive
lots of support from your social worker, as well as input from
education, occupational therapists and other professionals.
You’ll need to attend 10 days training and will need to be
available for 10 days for meetings and reviews in any 12 month
period.
As a multi-link carer you’ll be paid an allowance of £22,224 per
year and will receive 5 week’s holiday per year, plus bank holidays
(or time in lieu if worked).
This allowance is to meet the needs of the children and young
people in care and is not considered a wage.
Contract fostering
This is specialist, long-term fostering looking after children
and young people who have complex needs and who display challenging
emotional and behavioural difficulties.
You’ll need to be able to dedicate a high level of supervision
and attention in caring for these children, and experience shows
that they benefit from being the only child in the fostering
family.
As a contract foster carer you can’t take on other forms of
employment and will be paid a generous fee.