Fostering in North East Lincolnshire

A key focus for the children and young people is permanence and stability. Having consistent, positive, and trusting relationships is the key to everything else, whether that be with staff at NELC, or family members and foster carers.

A short stay foster carer looks after a child while their regular foster carer takes a break. Usually, a child will stay with you between one night but can be up to two or three weeks. As a short stay foster carer you do all the same training and have access to the same network of professional support as any other foster carer, but this is a more flexible part-time role that can work with other commitments you may have.

Short break carers look after children with disabilities for short periods on a regular basis while their parent or carers take a break. As a short break foster carer, you do all the same training and have access to the same network of professional support as any other foster carer but this is a more flexible part-time role. In addition, specialist training is available to help carers understand the needs of any child they may look after, as well as having an allocated fostering social worker who will work closely with you to ensure that you have the support.

Kinship foster care is when children’s services place a child with a family member, family friend or someone else closely connected to them. You do not have parental responsibility as a kinship foster carer. The child is in the care of children’s services, either through a voluntary agreement with their parents or an order made by a family court The law requires children’s services to give preference to a home with a family member or friend who is approved as a foster carer. However, that person must be assessed and approved as a foster carer. In an emergency, you may be assessed and approved as a temporary foster carer.