Fostering in London and the South East

This is when a child needs to stay with a foster family for several years, or until they are ready and able to live independently.

Planned breaks carers play a vital role in supporting full-time foster carers and young people. Providing cover during holidays and weekends gives full-time carers the chance to recharge their batteries and enables children to have new experiences. It would involve you looking after a child or young person for a few days, usually on a regular basis.

Typically lasting around three months, this type of fostering involves safeguarding and supporting babies and young children whose parents are unable to safely care for them without help. The parent(s), who can be teenagers or adults ranging from 18 to 40+, live with you during this time, and care for the child under your observation and with your help. This is a very different role from other types of fostering and is offered in only some of our services. You receive additional training and support. Our current specialist carers have told us it can be extremely rewarding. We’d be happy to talk to you if you wish to explore this further.

Where possible, we try to keep brothers and sisters together.

Children and young people who are waiting for the asylum application decision may need a home. This can be for a short term emergency or a long term home.

Within a therapeutic foster home, our foster parents look after and provide a loving home for children and young people who have faced severe disruption, abuse or trauma. These young people are likely to have complex needs, attachment difficulties and challenging behaviours. Action for Children Fostering will provide you with access to our professionals in this field and all the training and support you will need to manage any situation that may arise.