OTHER TYPES OF CARE
We are all different and we all need different kinds of care. Social Workers and the courts work hard to make sure that it’s the best type to keep children happy, healthy and safe.
Short Term care is when a child or young person stays with a foster family for anything from one day to maybe two years.
Long Term care is when a child or young person goes to live with a foster family or in a residential home for many years, until they are ready to live independently.
Children can have Breakaway Care where they go for short regular stays.
For example:
- One weekend a month
- A week or two during school holidays
- For a short period when a birth parent goes into hospital
This is when a child or young person stays with foster carers before going to live with the family who are going to adopt them.
This is being cared for by a family member, a family friend, or someone who knows the child well.
When a child goes to live with family or family friends as their carer.
When carers have obtained Special Guardianship Order which gives them Parental Responsibility. This is shared with the parents but the Special Guardian has the power to decide matters for the child.
SGO can only be applied by the courts and by the making of this order the children are no longer in the care of the Local Authority.
This means a child is living with a friend or someone not related to them for more than 28 days at a time. The Fostering Team must know about these arrangements to make sure it is a good place to live.