What Is Fostering?
An introduction to foster care in the UK, and the part foster carers play in the lives of children and young people.
Why Children May Need Foster Care
Children and young people come into foster care for many different reasons. A family may be going through a period of crisis, a parent may be unable to care for their child at a particular time, or professionals may have identified concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing at home. In some cases, a placement is arranged for a matter of days; in others, it may last for years.
Whatever the circumstances, the aim of foster care is the same: to give a child or young person a safe, stable and nurturing place to live while decisions are made about their future, or for as long as they need it.
The Role of a Foster Carer
Foster carers provide day-to-day care in their own home, offering routine, encouragement and emotional support. This might include helping with school, attending appointments, supporting contact with birth family where appropriate, and simply being a steady, reassuring presence.
Foster carers do not work in isolation. They are part of a wider network that typically includes social workers, teachers, health professionals and, where relevant, birth family members. Working well with these professionals is a core part of the role.
Everyday Care
Routine, encouragement and a stable home life for a child or young person.
Working Together
Close collaboration with social workers and other professionals involved in a child's life.
Temporary and Longer-Term Arrangements
Fostering is not a single, fixed arrangement. Some children stay with a foster family for a short period, for example while their situation at home is reviewed. Others remain with the same carers for many years, sometimes into adulthood. There are also arrangements designed for emergencies, for short breaks, and for keeping brothers and sisters together.
You can read more about these different arrangements on our types of fostering page.
Safeguarding, Stability and Relationships
Whatever form fostering takes, three things remain constant throughout a child's journey.
Safeguarding
Keeping children safe is the foundation of every fostering arrangement.
Stability
Routine and consistency help children feel secure, even amid change.
Relationships
Trusted relationships with carers and professionals support a child's wellbeing.
Want to Find Out More?
If you have questions about fostering or want to understand whether it could be right for you, we are happy to talk it through.