Becoming a Short Breaks Foster Carer

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• Becoming a Short Breaks Foster Carer

A Short Breaks Foster Carer is someone who looks after disabled children or vulnerable children for regular weekends or holidays.

This is done in the carer’s own home.

We need people who could offer at least two weekends per month, looking after the same children regularly. This helps the children and the families to build up a good relationship.

Sometimes the parent or carer of a vulnerable or disabled child needs a break. Caring full-time can be very demanding and a regular short break can help the permanent carer to recharge their batteries. Also, a parent may have other children who would benefit from individual attention which they may not normally get. A short breaks carer will have the time and energy to perhaps take a child to do things which they may not normally be able to do.

Full-time foster carers also need respite sometimes too. A short breaks carer may look after a foster child whilst a foster carer goes on holiday or visits a relative.

All children are individual and there are many forms of disability but many of the children in Kingston who need regular short breaks care have learning disabilities including autism. They means they may have limited speech or communication difficulties but others are very talkative. Some children are very physically active and and others may have difficulties, for example, with stairs. Very few children use a wheelchair. Some children are unable to bathe or use the toilet without help.

All foster carers are paid an allowance for the child’s expenses, plus a fee for themselves. The allowance of a disabled child is 50% higher than the regular fee.

Short breaks carers must attend the same training courses as full-time foster carers plus a special session about each individual disabled child. All carers have the same opportunities for achieving a professional NVQ qualification.

Looking after a disabled child may require small changes to your home, such as adding bathroom equipment, which would be provided by the council. Many children can manage to climb stairs and only a few children need wheelchair access.

All foster carers are approved according to the age and number of children they may be able to look after. Short breaks carers often decide that they would like to foster full -time. They are then re-assessed to enable them to do this.