Respite Foster Care | Respite Fostering Pay

What is respite foster care?

Respite foster care provides valuable support to foster families who may be experiencing difficulties or simply need some time to unwind and spend some time together as a family.

This type of placement provides foster families with a short break, while a child in their care stays with their respite foster parent for a few nights. Generally, respite care takes place over the weekend and during school holidays.

Respite care is carefully planned with the foster parent and responsible local authority to ensure the child’s best interests and needs are met. Wherever possible, we encourage respite foster parents to get to know the children ahead of their first stay, so they can begin to establish a positive, trusting relationship.

Benefits of respite foster care

There are many benefits that respite foster care placements offer, including;

Providing foster parents with a break from their day-to-day duties
Helping to make a difference to a child's life - even if you're only caring for a child for a short period of time, you can still provide them with positive experiences

What qualities are needed?

Energy
Compassion
Flexibility
Patience
Understanding
Commitment

Respite fostering pay

Respite foster parents receive a generous fostering allowance, up to £75 per night, which varies depending on your level of experience.

Foster parents receive 22 nights respite per year, so you could receive up to £1,650 per family that you support – assuming they require their full respite allowance – while playing an important role in supporting the stability of a child in care.

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Who can become a respite foster parent?

As respite care provides short term planned placements, it’s ideal for families, couples or single people who want to make a difference to a child’s life but can’t commit to full time fostering. The initial requirements are:

You're over 21 years old
You have a spare bedroom
You have a legal right to work in the UK
You have the time, energy and passion to transform a child’s life

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How to become a foster parent

The first step is to fill out our online form and we’ll be in touch to talk to you about the role, answer any questions and take a few details from you to check you meet the initial criteria to foster.

We’ll then arrange to visit you at home, so you can learn more about the work we do and give us the opportunity to get to know you better. You’ll then need to complete an application form and, if accepted, you’ll start your full fostering assessment.

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Short-term foster care

Caring for a child on a short-term basis, from a night or two and up to two years, and often required while care proceedings are ongoing.

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Long-term foster care

Offering a more permanent home for a child in care, which often lasts until they reach independence.

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Emergency foster care

Providing a home for a child who has been taken into care quickly due to an immediate threat to their safety or wellbeing.

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Children with a disability

Providing specialist care to a child with a disability; this could be a child with complex medical needs, such as tube fed, limited mobility, full self-care needs, or a child with low functioning autism.

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Parent & child fostering

Providing vulnerable parents with the skills and knowledge they need to provide a safe and nurturing environment for a baby and meeting their ever-changing needs.

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Other types of foster care

As well as respite foster care, there are a number of other types of placements, including:

Speak to our team today

Whether you're looking for more information or you're ready to apply, we're here to help you on your journey.

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