Children with disabilities fostering
Children with Disabilities
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Children with disabilities who need foster care may have complex learning disabilities, or be diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. They might have physical disabilities requiring equipment to support them, and/or have complex medical health needs.
If you are nurturing, creative and have the belief that children with disabilities have the potential to succeed with appropriate support in place, this could be a very rewarding fostering role for you and your family to consider.
You might already have knowledge and experience of caring for, or working with, children with complex health needs and disabilities and this could be an opportunity for you to transfer your skills into a fostering role.
Short breaks foster care
Short breaks foster care involves caring for a child with disabilities, usually as a regular arrangement, such as over a weekend or several days each month. We ask for short breaks Foster Carers to commit to a minimum of 24 nights per year (two nights per month).
Short breaks give the opportunity for a child with disabilities to experience different activities, make new friends, and develop their independence. It can help them broaden their horizons and integrate with other children, gain confidence, and have fun.
This type of fostering gives birth or foster families a break from the pressures of full-time caring, an opportunity to recharge their batteries and spend quality time with their other children or partner, or to do the things that many people take for granted, however small.
As a short breaks Foster Carer you will receive the training and support needed to provide this care and will become a valued member of the fostering team.
Caring for children with disabilities full time
Children might come into care for a short period of time for various reasons and might need a foster home for a few weeks, a year or as long as it takes for the child’s situation to resolve. The child becomes part of your family until such time when a transition plan is put into place.
Children who come into care full time need stability through to adulthood. Foster carers might know the child from providing short breaks, or through networks within specialist schools and fostering.
Foster Carers work with a child on developing communication, social and independence skills in co-ordination with other professionals in the child’s life from health, school or other organisations.
As a Foster Carer caring for a child with disabilities you will get the support you need to give them the best possible care, including supervision, training and linking in with other Foster Carers.
The Fostering and Kinship Service works closely with the Child Disability team and Placement Finding team to help match children with appropriate foster families. The teams also work together to provide equipment, adaptations, short breaks and transport to support Foster Carers.
Professional support and competitive pay
Thinking of becoming a Foster Carer?
