Types of foster care placement

There are many different types of foster care placements. This can range from a one night stay with respite or emergency foster care through to a long term foster care placement which can last for many months.

We encourage our foster parents to be adaptive to more than one type of fostering placement.

Exploring the types of fostering placement

More information about each type of foster care placement can be found by clicking on the links below.

Emergency fostering placements

Emergency fostering placements involves caring for children who need somewhere to stay immediately, usually for a few nights. Find out more about emergency fostering placements.

Short term (temporary) fostering placements

Short term or temporary fostering involves looking after children for a few weeks or months until difficulties at home are resolved or alternative plans are made for their future. Find out more about short term fostering placements.

Long term (permanent) fostering placements

In general, fostering is usually a temporary way of offering children a home until they can return home to their own families. However, when a child cannot return home, decisions have to be made to find a permanent family for the child. Find out more about long term fostering placements.

Respite fostering placements

Respite fostering involves children living with their own family or foster parents, but having short stays with another foster family, to give their family/main foster parents a break. Find out more about respite fostering placements.

Parent and child fostering placements

Parent and child fostering placements involve foster parents looking after a birth parent and her/his child/ren or a young woman who is pregnant. Find out more about parent and child fostering placements.

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