Can I provide respite care for another foster family?

You can provide respite care for another foster family if you are approved as a foster carer, or if a fostering service assesses and approves you specifically for this role. Respite care is a planned, temporary arrangement in which a child stays with another approved carer while their usual foster carers have a break, attend an important commitment or manage a short-term difficulty.

Respite fostering is different from informally looking after a friend’s or relative’s child. The child remains looked after under the arrangements made by the responsible local authority, so the fostering service must agree the placement and confirm that it is safe, suitable and in the child’s interests. The arrangement should be recorded clearly, including the dates, reasons for respite, expectations for care and the responsibilities of everyone involved.

Who can provide respite care?

Many respite carers are already approved foster carers who have the space, skills and availability to care for an additional child for a limited period. Some fostering services also assess people who want to foster on a respite-only basis. You do not necessarily need to be looking to offer full-time foster care, but you will still need to meet the relevant fostering requirements and demonstrate that you can provide consistent, safe care.

Your circumstances will be considered individually. This can include your household, accommodation, work commitments, existing children or foster placements, pets, health, transport and the support available to you. A spare bedroom is commonly required, although the precise requirements depend on the child’s needs and the fostering service’s assessment.

What checks and preparation are involved?

Before providing respite care, the fostering service will need to complete the required assessment and safeguarding checks. These may include:

• enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks for relevant adults in the household;
• local authority and other background checks where appropriate;
• references and checks relating to your health and ability to provide care;
• an assessment of your home and the sleeping arrangements;
• training covering safeguarding, safer caring, behaviour, trauma and the needs of looked-after children; and
• an assessment of whether your household can manage the particular child or children being considered.

If you are already approved, the fostering service will review your approval, training and current circumstances before agreeing to respite arrangements. Being approved to foster does not mean that every respite placement will be suitable. The service must consider the child’s needs, your experience, the impact on any other children in the household and any conditions or limits attached to your approval.

How is a respite placement arranged?

The usual process begins when the child’s social worker, fostering service or usual foster carers identify a need for respite. Information should then be shared with the proposed respite carer so that an informed decision can be made. This may include the child’s age, personality, health, communication, education, daily routines, known triggers, relationships, cultural or religious needs and any risks that need to be managed.

A matching decision should take account of more than the available bedroom. The child needs to be placed with a carer whose skills, household and approach are appropriate for their individual circumstances. Where possible, the child should be introduced to the respite carer in advance and involved in discussions about the arrangement in a way that reflects their age and understanding.

Before the stay begins, the carers and professionals should agree practical details such as:

• the start and end dates and the arrangements for handover;
• medication, health appointments, school or nursery attendance and transport;
• contact with parents, siblings and other important people;
• the child’s routines, food, comfort items and communication needs;
• house rules, delegated authority and decisions the respite carer can make; and
• who to contact if the child becomes unwell, goes missing, makes a disclosure or there is another safeguarding concern.

What would be expected of you?

Although respite may last for a shorter period than a main foster placement, you would still be responsible for meeting the child’s day-to-day needs and following the agreed care plan. This includes providing supervision, maintaining appropriate boundaries, supporting the child’s routines and recording significant events or concerns. You must treat information about the child and their family confidentially and follow the fostering service’s policies on safer caring, photographs, online activity, physical contact and visitors.

You should also be prepared for the child to respond differently to a short stay. Some children may find changes of home unsettling, while others may settle quickly. A calm, predictable approach and clear communication with the usual foster carer can help maintain continuity. Any concerns should be reported promptly through the agreed channels rather than dealt with informally.

Will you receive support?

Respite carers should receive preparation before the placement and access to guidance from their fostering service during the arrangement. The level and type of support will depend on the service, the child’s needs and whether you are already an approved foster carer. Financial support may also be available under the fostering service’s arrangements, with the amount and payment terms explained before you agree to care for the child.

If you are considering respite fostering, the first step is to speak with a fostering service and explain whether you are already approved, are applying to foster or are interested in respite-only care. The service can explain its approval process, the checks required and the types of respite arrangement that may be appropriate for your household. Become a Foster Family supports people considering fostering across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire.