Specialist fostering
In many ways, all fostering is specialist. However, when we talk about specialist fostering we refer to roles which present particular challenges and which call for specific skills and patience.
What is specialist fostering?
Fostering children with disabilities, complex health or physical needs or challenging behaviours
These children may have a life-limiting disability which needs a regular care routine and physical lifting. Others might have a hearing or sight disability. We also include learning disabilities in this type of fostering, including ADHD and autism, so the range of challenges is wide.
Their parents might find it very difficult to cope and so need support perhaps just for a short while, sometimes more permanently. As well as supporting the child in their day-to-day lives, foster carers also need to help the child keep in touch with their birth parents.
Calling for huge amounts of care, compassion and patience, this type of fostering often involves handling medications and managing complex care routines, so it’s especially demanding on your time and commitment. Because of mobility issues, some children might also need a downstairs bedroom or bathroom, or other adaptations to the foster carers’ home, so you can see it’s a big undertaking.
Ensuring you have the right support and training to fostering a disabled child
Needless to say, FCA Scotland offers exceptional support, ranging from disability social workers and occupational therapists through to local support groups. You’ll also benefit from dedicated training in relevant areas, including sign language and medical and behavioural issues. And because children with disabilities often require specialist educational needs, you’ll have the backing and support of our professionals.
People often ask us if this type of fostering is open to people with disabilities of their own. The answer’s yes, provided it won’t compromise the health and well-being of you or the child in your care. In many cases, having a disability is an advantage, as it gives real insight into the child’s experiences. Discover more about fostering with a disability.
Fostering Allowances
You’ll receive a generous fostering payment for every week a child or young person is in your care, designed to reward your professionalism and commitment.
How to start fostering a children with disabilities
To become a foster carer the first step is to fill out our online form and we’ll be in touch to talk to you more about fostering, check you meet the initial criteria to foster and of course answer any questions you may have.
Our team will then arrange to visit you at home, so find out in more depth about fostering and also give us the opportunity to get to know you better. You’ll then need to fill in an application form and, if accepted, you’ll start your full fostering assessment.
Interested in becoming a foster carer with FCA Scotland?
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Other types of fostering
Long term fostering
For a child or young person this means that the care planning process has concluded that they will thrive best if they are cared for away from home on a permanent basis. This type of fostering would mean caring for a child or young person until independence.
Interim fostering
Interim fostering involves caring for a baby, child or young person for a few weeks or months while difficulties at home are resolved and is often linked to further assessments of the young person or family members together with court processes.
Short break fostering
Also known as respite fostering, this is where a foster carer takes on the care and support of a child or young person so that the usual foster carer can take a well-deserved break. We offer all of our foster carers respite care every year.
Continuing care
Continuing Care takes children through to the age of 21, ensuring a more seamless and supported transition to adulthood. It’s available to all young people who are, or have been, in a continuing relationship with a foster carer.
Solo fostering
In some cases, it’s often important for the child or young person to be a ‘solo’ placement - in other words, they’re the only child in the home. That means solo fostering is usually only suitable for foster carers without other children in their home.
Fostering siblings
Keeping brothers and sisters together after being placed in foster care is crucial. This type of fostering focuses on matching sibling groups with foster homes big enough for multiple foster children and foster parents who are capable of meeting their needs.
Asylum seeking children
Fostering unaccompanied asylum-seeking children can be extremely rewarding experience as you provide them with a safe and secure home environment. Your role is to support them for as long as they need, helping them adapt to a new culture.
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