Traditional or Parent & Child Fostering?
Posted 28 May 2024
There are two different types of fostering, and although the process and principles are the same, they both aim to achieve different outcomes. Parent and child is a far more transactional relationship where the carer helps the parent make a bond with the child, whereas a traditional foster carer will become much closer to the child building a stronger relationship with them over a longer period.
The outcome for a young person in care is to provide an environment where they successfully complete their education and become a contributor to society.
Integrating into a family life is important for a child in care, as the foster carers will commit to that child brining them into their family. Traditional foster care can at times be unplanned when there are emergency placements, should the carers choose to opt for such placements. However, parent and child is rather a planned role and the planned breaks following placements can often fit well into busy lifestyles.
You may choose one 12-week placement per year or multiple depending on your needs.
The rewards of parent and child fostering are quite instant, as you will see within 12 weeks a large development of child and baby where you set them on a pathway to independence. With a foster child this may be a longer path to measure the rewards, however the rewards could be considered much greater when it comes to building a strong relationship and bond to a child over the course of years.
It is not always easy to define the natural length of a foster placement and it can be determined by the planned outcomes for the child. If they will return to family or whether the plan is to remain in care until 18.
There are of course, many similarities but also differences between each type of fostering and one person may be more suited to one than the other. We find that not many people consider becoming a Parent and Child Foster Carer and are not aware of it as a service.
If you are sure that you want a short-term placement and have experience in caring for babies, parent and child fostering could be a good option. It can help in providing knowledge and benefit to see a quick development, unlike traditional fostering where placements can be a lot longer and you stick with a child throughout their growth and adolescence.
We have an excellent team of social workers at Footprints Foster Care that have extensive knowledge about fostering placements and they would be happy to share more information, so you can choose what is right for you.
Why not get in touch by calling 01202 573408.