What types of fostering placements are available across the West Midlands?

Fostering placements are arranged according to how long a child may need care, the level of support required and the circumstances that led to them entering care. A foster carer may be considered for one or more placement types, but approval depends on their assessment, household situation, experience, training and ability to meet a child’s specific needs.

Short-term fostering is intended for children who need somewhere safe to live while plans are made for their future. A child may return to their birth family, move to live with relatives, transfer to a longer-term foster family or move to another form of care. Short-term placements can last from a few days to several months, depending on the child’s circumstances and the decisions made during care planning.

This type of fostering can involve supporting children through reviews, assessments and contact arrangements with their birth family. Foster carers need to provide stability while remaining open to the possibility that the placement will end when a longer-term plan is agreed.

Long-term fostering provides a stable home for a child who is not expected to return to their birth family but may not be able to move to an adoptive family or another permanent arrangement. The placement may continue through childhood and, where appropriate, into early adulthood. Long-term foster carers often play an important role in supporting education, health, relationships, identity and preparation for independence.

Long-term fostering is different from adoption. The child remains legally looked after, and their birth family may continue to have involvement in their life. The level and type of contact will be set out in the child’s care plan and may change as their needs develop.

Emergency fostering is used when a child needs an immediate safe place to stay because their previous living arrangement has broken down or an urgent safeguarding decision has been made. The initial information available about the child may be limited, so foster carers need to be able to manage uncertainty and help the child settle while further assessments take place.

An emergency placement may become short-term, move into a longer-term arrangement or end when another suitable plan is identified. Foster carers are given information relevant to the immediate placement, with further details shared as they become available and as it is appropriate to do so.

Respite fostering gives a child’s usual foster carer a planned break and provides the child with another safe, consistent home for an agreed period. It may be arranged regularly or used for a particular situation, such as a holiday, family emergency or period when the main foster household cannot provide care.

Respite carers still need to understand the child’s routines, communication style, health needs and support plan. Good information-sharing between carers helps the child experience continuity and makes it easier for them to move between households.

Sibling placements are for brothers and sisters who need to enter care at the same time. Keeping siblings together can help preserve important relationships, but it may require additional space, practical organisation and the ability to respond to different ages, personalities and needs within the same household.

Where siblings cannot safely live together, plans may be made for them to live separately while maintaining appropriate contact. Foster carers may therefore support sibling relationships even when the children are placed in different homes, provided this forms part of the agreed care plan.

Parent-and-child placements involve a young parent and their baby or child living with foster carers. The purpose is usually to assess parenting capacity and provide practical guidance while keeping the child safe. The foster carer may help with routines, feeding, appointments, household tasks and understanding the child’s development, while supporting the parent to take responsibility for day-to-day care.

These placements require clear boundaries, patience and the ability to offer guidance without taking over the parenting role. The assessment process will consider whether the household has the space, skills and support needed for both the parent and child.

Specialist placements are designed for children whose needs require particular skills, experience or additional support. This may include children with complex emotional or behavioural needs, disabilities, developmental differences, significant experiences of trauma or a history of placement disruption. Some children may also need support with therapeutic work, education, health care or managing relationships.

Specialist fostering is not defined simply by a child’s diagnosis. The matching process considers the whole situation, including the child’s strengths, risks, routines, communication needs and relationships. Foster carers may need to complete additional training or demonstrate relevant experience before being considered for a particular placement.

How placement matching works

Placement decisions should consider whether the proposed household can meet the child’s needs safely and consistently. Information considered may include the child’s age, personality, health, education, behaviour, identity, cultural background, contact arrangements and relationships with brothers and sisters. The impact on everyone already living in the household is also important.

Foster carers should be given information about the placement before agreeing to it, although the amount of information available can vary, particularly in an emergency. It is appropriate to ask about the expected length of the placement, contact with family, education, health needs, known risks, professional involvement and the support available.

A placement type is not a permanent label. A child’s needs can change, and a placement that begins as an emergency arrangement may develop into a short-term or longer-term plan. Foster carers should receive ongoing guidance, training and supervision so they can review whether the arrangement remains suitable and identify any additional help required.

Choosing the right type for your household

During assessment, applicants should discuss the kinds of placements that may fit their circumstances rather than agreeing to every possible option. Relevant factors include work and childcare commitments, bedrooms and space, other children or adults in the home, transport, existing family responsibilities and the type of behaviour or care needs the household can manage.

Being approved for one placement type does not mean a foster carer must accept every referral. Each proposed placement should be considered individually, with the child’s needs balanced against the foster family’s capacity. A careful match is more important than accepting a placement that is unsuitable for the household.

Prospective foster carers can ask for an explanation of the available placement categories, the approval requirements and the support provided for each one. These discussions, together with preparation training and the fostering assessment, help establish which arrangements are realistic and safe for the carer, the child and everyone else in the household.