Types of fostering
Providing a loving home for a child moving from residential care with our enhanced foster carer support package – Bridge to Belonging.
Step Down Fostering is a form of foster care where a child who has previously been living in residential care makes the transition into a family environment. Foster carers looking after these children receive an enhanced support package from Team Fostering, called Bridge to Belonging.
Sometimes family-based foster care is not the most suitable living situation for a young person in care. On some occasions young people have had to live in a residential home because of the shortage of foster carers across our region. We are seeing a higher number of children under the age of 12 in residential homes because of this.
Some young people have struggled in a family and have required a period with specialist support to enable them to move back to a family. If the young person makes positive progress, it may be that living with a foster family is the right next step for them to make, which can make a substantial impact on positive outcomes in their future.
Step Down foster carers help children transition from residential care to foster family life. Like entering care for the first time, children who leave residential care to enter family-based care experience a massive change. It’s important that Step Down Care is managed sensitively and carefully by local authorities in collaboration with foster carers. This specialist form of fostering is highly rewarding as young people start to develop strong, positive relationships and attachments within a family unit.
Step Down Fostering:
Bridge to Belonging is a specialist package of support for Step Down foster carers – lasting one year – which was named by one of our young people as the ‘bridge’ they needed to live with a family. It provides a planned transition with introductions and helps you build a relationship with the young person.
Bridge to Belonging covers a number of stages, all aimed at supporting you, and the young person, every step of the way. These are:
There are lots of common misconceptions regarding children who’ve lived in residential care. We’ve addressed some of the most common below.
Children enter residential care for many reasons. A big number of these children are in residential because of the shortage of foster carers. The reasons range from family emergencies to abuse or other difficult circumstances. It is a supportive system, not a punishment, and many children thrive in these environments, especially with proper care and support which means they can move back to a family setting.
Residential care homes are typically much smaller and designed to feel like a nurturing home, not a large institution. They provide a warm, secure, and supportive environment where children and young people live in small groups with trained staff who offer individual attention and emotional support.
It is a priority for children and young people to attend education, this is the same for young people in residential homes.
Children and young people are encouraged to participate in decisions about their care, goals and living environment. A lot of young people want to live with a family but are scared.
To find out more about Bridge to Belonging and Step Down Fostering with Team Fostering, complete our enquiry form below, chat to one of our advisors on Live Chat or call us on 0800 292 2003. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions.
