Short break fostering

Sometimes foster carers need a break themselves and we ask our short break carers to provide care for children for a weekend or perhaps a week during the school holidays. Sometimes we’re asked to help out a family who just need a bit of ‘time out’.

As a short breaks carer you might look after children for regular week ends, a week in the school holidays or occasional ‘one offs’. It’s a way of being able to foster even if you work full time.

The children will be aged from 6–16 years and some of them will be quite demanding. You need to think about whether you can cope with children who may have particular behavioural difficulties.

Children and young people who need care need lots of time and encouragement, but the positives massively outweigh any negatives
Foster carer

To become a short breaks carer you will still need to do all the training and go through the assessment as for full time foster carers.

Children’s Disability Short Break and Fostering Service

You could become a foster carer for this specialist service providing short breaks (respite) for children with physical and learning disabilities. You can find out more on our page about the Children’s Disability Short Break and Fostering Service.

Other forms of short term foster care

Short periods of care are also provided for parents and baby placements and emergency placements.