We work with young children, older children, children who have experienced trauma and neglect, children with attachment difficulties, unaccompanied asylum seekers disabled children and sibling groups. The one thing that is constant, is their need for a loving home.
There are many different types of foster care. Some children are not going to be adopted but are still looking for long term home. Others, need somewhere they can go for shorter periods of time – in an emergency, or for a short break. Others have very specific needs, and potential foster carers will need a more specific skills and experience, depending on their particular needs.
This could be providing a home and support for a young person with a baby, or someone who may have got into trouble with the law or children who have had early experiences of trauma, neglect or abuse. When you apply to be a foster carer, a social worker will talk to you and your family about what type of fostering would work for you.
This type of fostering is probably the most well known. When a child or young person’s home situation is not likely to change quickly, they may need to stay with a foster carer for months or years. This can be until they’re ready and able to live independently.
We do not offer a fostering service in all parts of the UK. If you are interested in this type of fostering then give us a call for an informal chat on 0845 862 0562 or see if we have a team near you.
Gives a child a safe place to stay for one or two nights at short notice when something unexpected happens in their family.
Sometimes we’re asked to temporarily look after a child coming into care for a specific reason, such as an ill parent.
This gives full-time carers cover for holidays, weekends, day care or babysitting – the carers get the chance to recharge their batteries and the children meet different people and have new experiences. If you’re thinking about fostering, it’s also a way for you to get hands-on experience before deciding if being a foster carer is right for you.
Shorts breaks may be for a few hours, an overnight stay once a week, or even for several weeks during school holidays. Find out more about short breaks.
For an informal chat with one of our friendly team. Open from Monday to Friday 9-5
This is when parents need support and guidance in learning to care for their babies or young children. The parent lives with you, as well as the child, and you work with other professionals to see how they cope and help them develop as a parent.
Working with professionals, you’ll help young people who’ve been through early neglect, abuse or trauma, many moves in care, or placements that haven’t worked.
TFCO gives children and young people the boundaries and support they need to achieve their potential. You’ll be part of an exciting, new programme that has worked in over 50 countries around the world, including America and Canada, Sweden, Norway, the UK and New Zealand. We offer higher levels of support for these types of placements with regular breaks and higher fees. Read more about MTFC
This is used as an alternative to prison (or secure accommodation) and is very effective at turning around the lives of vulnerable young people and their families.