What is parent and child fostering?

Parent and child fostering is a specialist type of fostering where both the parent and their young child join the fostering home and live with the foster carers for a period of time. Parent and child fostering used to be referred to as ‘mother and baby’ fostering because most of the time the arrangements are with the mother and a baby; however, parent and child can also be with fathers and/or toddlers or young children.

Length of arrangement

Parent and child fostering is usually a short-term arrangement, during which the foster carer supports the parent to improve their parenting skills. The carers will also monitor the parent’s ability to meet the basic needs of the baby and will report back to the child’s social worker. If it is determined that the parent is not willing or able to safely care for the baby, the parent and child will be separated.

Age of parent

The age of the parent can vary. Sometimes the parents are children themselves, or they may be young adults. Indeed, the parent may also be a child who is looked after by the looked after, or was formally a looked after child.

Age of child

The parent may join the fostering home while pregnant, in which case the foster carers must ensure that the parent is looking after themselves (and the baby) during pregnancy and the carers may need to support the parent through labour.

Availability and skills of the carers

Parent and child carers must be available full time so that the parent can be supported at all times. Also, parent and child foster carers must be experienced in supporting young people in crisis and newborn babies. For these reasons, parent and child fostering is specialist provision and there are a limited number of parent and child foster carers.

Fees

Parent and child carers receive fees and allowances to care for both the parent and the child. In addition to this, the parent may be receiving benefit support for themselves and the baby; agreements should be in place at the start of the fostering arrangement to confirm how the parent should be spending any benefits or other finances provided to them.

Carers are expected to have some oversight of how the parents manages their finances, because this is an integral part of effective parenting. Support should be offered when it is needed.

Comprehensive guidance

The most comprehensive source of free guidance on parent and child fostering can be found on the Sparks Fostering website at https://www.sparksfostering.org/PAC/