There are lots of different types of fostering placements that you can cater for as a foster parent, and each and every one will have a positive impact on the children in your care. Arguably the placement that makes the most difference to a child’s life is long-term fostering, as this offers the stability that foster children need to thrive.
Whereas shorter placements can last for up to two years, long-term ones can have more of an impact on a foster child because they stay with you for longer periods of time. We’re going to take a closer look at long-term fostering and its benefits for children, as well as how you can offer them more security as a foster parent.
What is long-term fostering?
Long-term fostering sees a foster child placed with you for an extended period of time, lasting for a minimum of two years until they typically reach the age of 18. This is the ideal fostering solution for children who aren’t able to return home to their birth families for whatever reason.
Foster children will stay with their short-term foster parents where possible, or potentially move to a new family if this isn’t achievable. Long-term foster care is perfect for foster parents who want to have a lasting impact on the children they care for, seeing them heal from their trauma and thrive as they grow.
Children in long-term foster placements will stay in touch with their birth family if it’s in their best interests, and part of your role will be to facilitate family time if they do. They can also stay with you and your family after they’ve reached the age of 18 through a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement, helping them to transition into adult life.
What are the benefits of long-term fostering?
There are lots of different benefits to long-term fostering, both for the young person in your care as well as you, their foster parent. These include:
- Stability – living with the same foster family over a longer period of time gives a young person the stability and security that they need to thrive.
- Routine and continuity – one of the best tools for healing is having a routine and continuity, which is achievable through long-term placements, as this gives your foster children a sense of safety.
- Healing – having a safe space in which to heal from their trauma will be endlessly beneficial to the young people in your care.
- Sense of identity – staying in one place allows a foster child to lay down roots and develop a stronger sense of identity, connection with those around them, and build self-esteem.
- Positive outcomes – you get to see the real-life impact that your hard work is having on your foster children as they grow.
- Meaningful connections – supporting your foster child over several years can help you to form meaningful bonds with each other, as well as cultivate trust between you.
- Part of the family – your foster children will become part of the family, especially if they live with you for many years. Many care experienced adults stay in touch with their foster families even after they’ve left home.
Long-term vs short-term fostering placements
Long-term foster placements tend to last until the young person has reached adulthood, whereas short-term foster placements can last for anywhere between a few days and weeks up to a maximum of two years.
Short-term fostering is the most common type of fostering placement and offers the support children need at a turbulent time in their lives. By welcoming a child into your home, even for a short time, you’re giving them the stability they need to continue their education.
Each type of fostering will make a difference in a child’s life, and it’s entirely down to your personal preference as to which type of fostering you choose to offer. If you want to have an immediate impact on a child’s life but have more flexibility, then short-term fostering could be for you. But if you want to focus on building trust with your young person and see how they develop over time, long-term fostering is ideal for you both.
Long-term fostering vs adoption
At first glance, long-term fostering may seem similar to adoption. However, these are two different things, most notably in who has parental responsibility for the young person. Whereas with adoption you would become their legal guardian, with fostering they remain the responsibility of the local authority.
Foster parents are also paid an allowance when caring for the young person, which isn’t the case with adoption. As a foster parent with Clifford House, you’ll also have the support of a small, friendly team at each stage of your journey. With adoption, parents very rarely get the support they need after the adoption order has been granted.
The positive impacts of long-term fostering
There are so many positive impacts of long-term fostering for the children in your care. We’ve covered a lot of these above, but the main positive is undoubtedly giving a young person the loving home that they need and deserve.
With your love and support, they’re able to heal from their trauma and work towards creating a positive future for themselves. Let’s take a look at some of these positives in more detail.
Healing from trauma
Sadly, around 67% of children who enter foster care have suffered from abuse or neglect. Other reasons can include a parent falling ill, passing away, or family dysfunction. Whatever your young person has experienced so far in their short lives, chances are that they will come with trauma, which can become overwhelming at times.
Long-term permanence gives them the safe space they need to heal from that trauma. You can show them how to express their emotions in a healthy way, and that what’s happened in the past doesn’t define them.
We have developed our own specialised trauma informed training to support foster parents such as yourselves throughout your fostering journey. This is delivered in person, and gives you the essential skills you need to support your young person.
Creating a sense of belonging
Each of us wants to belong somewhere, and feel like we’re loved and valued for who we are. That shouldn’t be any different for a young person in care. The permanence of a long-term placement allows children to create a sense of belonging with you as their foster family, which will be endlessly beneficial for their wellbeing.
By remaining in one place for the rest of their childhood and adolescence, they can maintain connections with friends at school, with the trusted adults that surround them, and with each of your family members.
Minimising disruption
We try and minimise the disruptions that young people experience, and aim to keep them with the same foster family if possible. Constantly moving between placements can have a detrimental impact on a child’s mental health, and can even re-traumatise them. It could make them feel that they don’t belong anywhere, or that no one loves them.
Remaining in one long-term placement rather than swapping between several short-term placements can help to make them feel more secure and comfortable.
Daily routines
Having a daily routine is so important for the foster children in your care. It might not seem like a big deal if plans have to change at short notice, but this can dysregulate children in care, and cause trauma to resurface.
Routine is a comforting thing, especially for neurodivergent children. It creates a sense of safety, as you know your environment is predictable and this allows you to relax. For some children who have experienced abuse and neglect, an unpredictable environment can be highly traumatic, and even bring back painful memories.
Having meals, play time, and going to bed at the same times each day can reinforce a feeling of security for your foster child. Showing them that you’re a reliable adult that they can trust will be such an important thing for your foster child to see each and every day.
Improving long-term outcomes
Finding the right foster families for children can massively improve their long-term outcomes. Once children have a secure base where they feel loved and safe, they’re able to work through their trauma and look towards the future. If they have this stability, they’re more likely to have positive outcomes in later life.
Opening your heart and home to children in need can give them this security that they need to pursue their dream career or further education in college or university. All of the hard work that you put into developing this loving relationship gives them the tools they need to move forwards and make a brighter future.
Transitioning to adult life
Although most teenagers leave care once they reach 18 years of age, your young person can also stay with you after this if they want to, in what is called a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement. You can help them to better transition to adult life, helping them to think about what financial factors they’ll need to consider such as rent, bills, and paying for food.
A Staying Put arrangement eases the transition to living independently, and typically lasts until your young person turns 21.
What support is there for long-term foster parents?
We’re passionate about giving our foster parents the support that they need at each stage of their fostering journey. As a smaller agency, you can expect a personalised approach that really makes the difference.
Some of our support includes:
- Access to a 24/7 helpline so that you’ve got support when you need it most.
- A dedicated supervising social worker with a realistic case load.
- A generous fostering allowance.
- Support groups where you can connect with likeminded foster parents.
- Training that’s tailored to you and your needs.
- Free membership to FosterTalk.
- Fun days out for all the family with other foster families.
Fostering allowances
The work that you do is crucial to giving your foster children the love and positive futures that they deserve. That’s why we offer a competitive fostering allowance so that you can be rewarded for the difference that you’re making to a young person’s life.
Alongside this, foster parents are entitled to tax relief. You’ll also receive additional allowances for a religious holiday and for your foster child’s birthday so that they can have a memorable day.
Curious about fostering?
Are you thinking about fostering long-term but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you have questions about the fostering process? Chances are that if you’re already thinking about fostering, then you’re the perfect fit for making a difference in a child’s life.
If you want to know more about fostering, fill out our enquiry form or give us a call on 0800 369 8515 to speak to one of our friendly advisors. They can talk to you about the application process in more detail and answer any queries you have about fostering.