Service Description: Fostering is substitute family care for children and young people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their own families. Services available via the Fostering Service are Long Term Fostering, Short Term Fostering, Respite Care, Day Care Providers, Family Link and Combined Accomodation Scheme (CAS). The service currently consists of 3 Units and a Fostering Duty Worker.
Answer: Children who use the scheme have a range of different types of special needs. Some children have a moderate learning or physical disability, whereas others have more severe and complex disabilities or health needs. The ‘matching’ process concentrates on linking the right child with the right carer. There is no typical ‘Family Link’ arrangement and no one is asked to take a child they do not feel able to manage. - Related Link