Different ways to foster

Let us know what time you can offer, the skills and experience you have and together, we can consider how you could make a difference.

We don’t like to put people into categories or boxes, so we would like to get to know you and the skills and experience you have and believe that this way, together, we will find the best type of fostering, to suit you, at the time.

See our new fostering video, Out There:

Here are some ways to foster but please get in touch as there are many more.

Short-term fostering

You look after a child for a few weeks or months, while their family situation is assessed and plans are made to keep them safe. You'll be taking care of the child and providing stability and care during this time before they move back to their family, or longer term fostering or adoption.

Bridging placement carers

Bridging placement carers provide intensive, complete care and support to a young person, within their home, providing stability and continuity.

The placements are short and effective, with the carers being there for the child or young person when they need them the most. This role is full-time with the flexibility to fit in with life plans, through planned placements.

This role is suitable for those with the skills and experience of caring for children, allowing them to approach the role with resilience and confidence. To achieve the best outcome for the child/young person, bridging carers will utilise their skills with children and families to collaborate with professionals, and in some cases, work with birth families.

Ultimately, the Bridging Carer will be the centre of support for the child/young person, driving positive outcomes for their situation. 

The role has a generous financial allowance, opportunity for professional development, and thorough support will always be available.

Respite carers

Maybe you cannot offer full-time care but you could still make a difference. It’s important that we support and care for our foster carers and sometimes they need a rest or a helping hand. This is where our respite carers make such a difference to our foster carers, either on a regular basis or throughout school holidays for example.

Short break foster carers

If you have experience and skill in looking after young people with medical or additional needs, then you could make a real difference to a young person and their family as a short break foster carer. Let us know what you could offer in terms of time and skills and we’ll see if we can make it work.

Longer-term and permanent fostering

A child becomes a permanent part of your family. Some children can’t go home, but for them adoption isn’t possible. This may be because they have complex care needs or they have strong loyalties to their birth parents and do not wish to be adopted.

You'll be helping a child deal with a difficult time in their lives and will develop yourself and your family as well as receiving regular help and training from us.

Permanent foster caring gives children love, stability and support from children to adolescence and beyond.

Supported Lodgings Host

If you're interested in supporting young people, aged 16 plus, into independence and empowering them to make decisions about their future, then becoming a Supported Lodgings Host could be great for you.

You would need a spare bedroom, a general understanding of some of the needs of young people and the issues they may be facing, as well as patience and a commitment to provide a supportive and safe environment.

Supported Lodgings Plus

The transition to adulthood for some young people, may take a while longer and they may need more support to achieve this. This is why we need Supported Lodgings + carers in Leicestershire who can invest their time to help them.

Specialist carers

If you have qualifications, skills and experience in working with young people from 12 upwards, then one of these roles could be for you. Perhaps you have experience in youth work and young people’s residential care for example; we’d love to hear from you.

Our specialist roles:

Pathway Foster Carer

One2One Foster Carer

One2One EBD Foster Carer

Parent and Child Foster Carer

Independent Visitors

Do you want to have a positive impact on the life of a young person in care, but can’t commit to fostering full time? We’re looking for volunteers to become Independent Visitors and spare a few hours a month.

Contract: 3 - 5 hours per month
Pay/salary: unpaid voluntary position (pre-agreed expenses paid)
Home-based: Independent Visitors can be employed full-time

The role of Independent Visitors

For some children and young people in care, the only adults in their lives are professionals such as social workers, foster carers, and teachers.

An Independent Visitor is a responsible adult that a young person can establish a relationship with outside of their foster or residential home, and who is a consistent figure in their lives.

During visits, the Independent Visitor and young person can choose to do any activity they want, such as bowling, visiting the cinema, going out for something to eat, or attending a sporting event. Whatever the activity, the aim of the scheme is to provide a safe environment for the young person to be listened to, supported, and encouraged during their time in care and, oftentimes, beyond.

Our team involves approved applicants in the careful ‘matching process’, which considers availability, location, age preference, and shared hobbies and interests.

Criteria

To be an Independent Visitor volunteer, you must be:

  • 18 or above.
  • Able to drive and have access to your own vehicle.
  • Willing to dedicate your time and attention to a young person in care for a few hours every month.
  • Able to commit to the role for at least a year, to provide consistency and stability for our young people.
  • Willing to take part in a short assessment process, where we will carry out checks and references, and spend time getting to know you. Enquiry to approval take approximately 8 weeks.

As an Independent Visitor, you cannot be:

  • An elected member, or partner/spouse of an elected member of Leicestershire County Council, including any committees or sub-committees responsible for Leicestershire’s children and young people in care.
  • Employed by, or partner/spouse of someone employed by Leicestershire’s Children and Family Service.

Tell me more about Independent Visitors

Use our online enquiry form below and we'll aim to get back to you within one working day.

Enquiry form

Complete our online form to find out more about the different ways to foster.

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1. By phone

Call us on 0116 305 0505

Lines are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (8.30am - 4.30pm), Tuesday and Thursday (8.30am - 8pm)

Or text WEAREFAMILY to 60777

2. Book a chat

Book a chat with our team! Choose a time and date that suits you, and a member of our friendly team will call you for a low-pressure conversation about fostering for Leicestershire.

3. Using our secure enquiry form

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