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West Dunbartonshire Council
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Short Term Foster Carers

 

Short term foster carers look after children of all ages who can no longer stay with their own families.  As a short term foster carer you may be asked to look after children for a few days or a few weeks.  In some instances, children can remain in short term care for a year or two years depending upon their individual circumstances. 

 

Children may need to be looked after in foster homes for a variety of reasons such as:

 

  • Parental abuse of drugs and/or alcohol

  • Parental physical or mental health problems

  • Physical or sexual abuse

  • Physical or emotional neglect

  • Family relationship difficulties

  • Bereavement

 

Foster carers need to be welcoming, warm and confident people who will help children to feel safe and bring some stability into their lives.

 

Caring for the child is just one aspect of the role of the foster carer.  Of equal importance is their ability to work with parents and with professional staff in order to further a plan for the child.  When a child comes into short term foster care the priority is to work in partnership with the family to enable the child to return home.  Children who see their parent regularly are those most likely to have better outcomes.  Foster carers should have an understanding of the difficulties that parents face and be non judgemental. Carers will assist the child to maintain contact with their birth family.

 

Despite all efforts, some children may not be able to return to live with their parents and another family will be sought for them who can provide either long-term care or adoption.  The role of the short-term carer will be to help to prepare the child to move on to their alternative family.

 

Foster carers must be over 21, can be single, married, widowed, divorced or cohabiting in a stable relationship.  You may or may not be in employment, but if working you need to have sufficient time and flexibility to meet the needs of a child.  Children coming into care show their distress in a variety of ways and to be effective in helping them you need to have patience, understanding and resourcefulness. 

 

Foster carers may either own or rent their homes.  They may live in a flat or a house.  It is preferable for the child you foster to have a room of their own though younger children may share where appropriate.

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