Types of fostering

Short breaks (mainstream) carers look after children whilst their usual carers aren’t available—or to give them a break. You’ll need to be willing to look after children of different ages and be available typically anywhere from two nights to two weeks.

Some children have to be moved at short notice, sometimes during unsociable hours. Emergency foster carers are there for children for a brief period of time until short term carers are available or until the child is able to return to their family. You’ll need to be able to provide a safe place in an emergency with little notice and be willing to look after children of different ages and needs.

This can range from a few weeks to two years. As a short term carer, you will provide a safe and secure place for a foster child to live whilst we try to reunite the child with their birth family or find them a long term foster family.

Some young people are unable to live with their birth families on a permanent basis.

As a long-term foster carer, you will provide a planned placement that will allow a young person to grow up in a safe and secure environment often over a number of years. Many children are still in contact with their birth families so a key responsibility for all long-term carers is supporting this contact in partnership with Foster4Leeds.

Support carers provide planned short breaks to children living at home with their families. You will help and support a child living at home by providing regular breaks through which children can enjoy a safe and nurturing environment. Children will spend one to three night stays with a support carer every few weeks, and most support care agreements last between six and twelve months.

This type of fostering helps older children and young adults learn to live independently. You’ll need to enjoy their company and understand the issues facing young people today. The emotional and practical support you’ll need to give will depend on the needs of the young person you are fostering. You’ll be able to work full time and will be paid an allowance for each person you look after.

If you’re planning to look after the child of a relative or friend for more than 28 days or you’re already doing so, you are legally required to let Leeds City Council know about your arrangement so that we can make sure that you’re getting the right support and that the child is safe. Just give our team a call during office working hours on 0113 222 4403.

If you’re planning to look after the child of a relative or friend that is in care, this is known as kinship foster care. The easiest way to become a kinship carer is to give our team a call during office working hours on 0113 378 3537.

After fostering a child for a long time you can choose to become their special guardian. With this kind of arrangement you will become a long term guardian of the child but the child’s birth parents will still have some limited parental responsibility. This will offer a child safety and security without stopping their relationship with their birth parents. For more information, please contact the Kinship Care Team during standard office hours on 0113 378 3537.

If you have less time to commit but still want to make a difference then this type of fostering could be for you. You need to be able to foster just one weekend every 6 weeks but could foster more often if you wish. Short breaks offer disabled foster children a new and loving environment where they are able to build their independence and build new relationships.