Understanding the different types of foster care 

This type of fostering involves looking after young people who have been remanded into foster care by a court while awaiting trial. It requires additional training and strong supervision skills to manage the challenges these young people may present.  

Short-term fostering involves caring for a child for a few weeks or months while decisions are made about their future. This type of placement often bridges the gap between the child’s current situation and their next step, whether that’s returning to their birth family, moving into long-term foster care or being adopted.  

Emergency foster care provides children with a safe place to stay at very short notice – often within hours. These placements are typically brief and are used when a child is removed from an unsafe environment. Foster parents offering emergency care need to be prepared for immediate placements, often in the middle of the night.  

Long-term foster care supports children whose care plans - usually set by the courts - require them to stay with a foster family until adulthood. These are children who cannot return to their birth families and are not being adopted. At Mosaic, we specialise in supporting these long-term arrangements. Our role is to help foster parents offer children the stability and consistency they need to heal, grow and feel part of family life, for as long as they need it. 

Respite fostering offers short-term care to give parents or foster parents a break. This is particularly valuable for families caring for children with special educational needs, medical conditions or behavioural challenges. Respite placements can range from a weekend to a couple of weeks, helping to prevent burnout and support the overall stability of the child’s care. We prefer to call this type of care ‘supportive’ care. 

Fostering for adoption, sometimes called early permanence, involves caring for babies or young children while authorities determine if they can return to family members. If reunification isn’t possible, the foster parent may proceed with adopting the child. This requires dual approval as both a foster parent and adoptive parent.  

Therapeutic foster care supports children with complex needs, such as trauma, mental health issues, or behavioural challenges. At Mosaic, our SMILE therapeutic framework ensures the whole foster family receives immediate, tailored support. Our in-house therapeutic team offers interventions within hours, helping to address challenges early and maintain the stability of placements.  

Parent and child placements involve fostering a parent (usually a mother, but sometimes a father or both parents) and their baby or toddler. Foster parents offer guidance, support and assessment to help the parent learn how to care for their child. This type of fostering often plays a key role in court proceedings, where your observations and daily records are invaluable.  

Fostering UASCs involves caring for children who arrive in the UK alone. These young people may have faced unimaginable trauma and require specialised support to help them adapt to a new culture, navigate legal systems and feel safe. Patience, empathy and cultural sensitivity are essential.