Long-term Fostering

What is long-term fostering?

Long-term foster care means that a child or young person lives with a committed foster parent until they reach adulthood. They become part of the family, which gives them a sense of belonging and helps them form healthy attachments that positively influence their relationships now and in the future.

The permanent one-to-one support that a long-term foster parent can provide is exactly what young people need in order to thrive.

Benefits of long-term fostering

One of the key benefits of being a long-term foster parent is having the opportunity to make a significant difference because you’ll look after the child or young person for several years. Not only do you have the chance to make a difference, but you also get to see the impact your dedication, love and nurturing care have on the child or young person as you guide them to adulthood.

Children benefit from long-term foster care because it offers them the stability to:

• Build relationships and form attachments.
• Develop a sense of belonging.
• Heal from their trauma.
• Progress in their education.
• Connect with the local community.
• Follow their hopes and dreams.
• Have the childhood they deserve.

When children and young people in long-term foster care become independent, they often stay connected with their foster families. They may turn to them for advice and meet up to celebrate occasions and milestones, just like any other family.

Long-term fostering allowances

Foster care is a rewarding vocation that has unique challenges and demands. We value the dedication and hard work each foster parent brings to their role. This is why we offer competitive long-term fostering allowances, generous benefits and perks for our long-term foster carers.

Our long-term fostering allowances recognise the demands of foster care and the significant part you play in supporting the growth and development of children in your care by being there for them long-term.

Fostering allowances are designed to help you cover the cost of looking after the young people in your care with enough left over to reward yourself.

We realise that not every child is the same, and each placement presents unique challenges. To recognise this, at FCA, we offer extended training and enhanced allowances for foster parents who open their homes to children and young people with disabilities, autism and specialist behaviours.

This increase to your long-term fostering allowance will cover the extra support and expenses required to provide the best specialist care to these children and young people.

To learn about the tax relief and exemptions you receive as a long-term foster parent and how much you could earn by fostering, visit our fostering allowances and payments page.