Respite
Respite care
We all know parenting or caring for a child is demanding. Sometimes we need a break or a chance to recharge our batteries.
Respite care is a short-term fostering arrangement that usually happens for a few days on a recurring basis with the same child or young person.
The purpose of this type of fostering is to provide a break, also known as respite, for the child’s fulltime foster carer and family.
Respite periods are important for both our children and carers. It gives our children and young people an opportunity to meet other people, whilst also giving the child’s fulltime foster carer a break from their usual routine.
A child might need to stay with a respite carer if their main carer is poorly, has a commitment where the child or young person cannot attend, or respite is arranged to give the child’s main carer a break for a few days.
Respite care is typically arranged in advance to suit you and your availability. Many of our children love the routine of staying with their respite foster carers on a regular basis.
As a respite carer, you can decide when you are available. We will match you with a foster family who we think would best suit you and your circumstances.
The only difference between a mainstream carer and respite carer is the period of time you have the child or young person in your home.
We will offer you the same amount of training and support as a mainstream foster carer.
Support care
Support care is very similar to respite care, except the children you will be supporting will still be living with their parents and not looked after by a foster carer.
There are families in Hull who just need a bit more support from a trusted person to ensure the whole family can remain living together.
As part of an ongoing plan for the whole family, Hull City Council or a judge may recommend the parents temporarily share the care of their children between a well-matched support care foster carer and themselves.
Sharing the care of children between a support care foster carer and the birth parents could mean the family have a better chance of staying together long-term. It gives the parents time to work through the barriers that are making family life a struggle.
This arrangement could be for as little as a couple of nights a month, one night per week, or longer. It all depends on the needs of the family and the amount of support you can offer.
Short Breaks
Hull Fostering also provides short breaks for disabled children.
These children are not in foster care and live at home with their families. However, we all know parenting or caring for a child is demanding, and sometimes we need a break or a chance to recharge our batteries.
The children having short breaks with us often have complex medical needs or have more profound physical disabilities. Therefore, the breaks we provide enable parents to allow for one-to-one time with other siblings and time to rest.
Short breaks is a short-term arrangement that usually happens for a few days on a recurring basis with the same child or young person.
Short breaks care is typically arranged in advance to suit you and your availability, and many of our disabled children love the routine of staying with their short breaks foster carers on a regular basis.
As a short breaks carer, you can decide when you are available, and we will match you with a family who we think would best suit you and your circumstances.
We will offer you the same amount of training and support as a mainstream foster carer.
We offer all necessary guidance and training needed to make you, your family, and the child feel content and supported.