Your home, their future. Fours pairs of shoes varying in size from adult to baby

Enquire now for more information about fostering

Enquire now for more information and we will call or email you.

Enquire now

Short-term and long-term fostering

Short- and long-term foster carers provide day-to-day support to children and young people for different time periods.

Short-term foster care can last for a few days, several months, or years depending on the situation. Your care helps prepare children for their next move, either back to their birth families, adoptive families or onto a long-term foster home.

Long-term fostering provides young people with a permanent home for the duration of their childhood. Once a child reaches 18, there is the potential for them to remain with you until they are 21 years old as part of Staying Put arrangements. You create a stable and loving home where children feel truly settled and can fulfil their potential.

Where appropriate, foster carers will support children to keep in touch with the people and places that are important to them to help maintain lifelong links.

Why become a short-term or long-term foster carer

As well as our normal benefits, short-term and long-term foster carers will:

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Make a difference to children and young people in Herefordshire.

 

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Receive comprehensive training and support.

 

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Receive a 100% Council Tax exemption.

 

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Build fulfilling, long-term relationships that enrich your life.

 

Who can be a short-term or long-term foster carer

Over 21s of any background, relationship status, sexual orientation, working status, or faith can foster. You just need:

  • A desire to make a difference and develop as a foster carer
  • A spare bedroom in stable accommodation
  • No child-related convictions
  • Some childcare experience

Fostering may interest you if you have previously supported children, personally or professionally. Transferring your skills into this role might allow you to step back from full-time work.

What it's like being a short-term or long-term foster carer

Hear from John and Shirley, who have fostered for over 40 years.

Fees

You could be paid upwards of around £400 per week for providing short- or long-term foster care.

How to apply

How to apply and the fostering process