What are the different types of placement?

What are the different types of placement?

Assessment placements, including parent / child assessment

Up to six months in duration and including undertaking a specific risk assessment, for example:

• How safe a child is with particular birth family members
• How well a child gets on with particular birth family members
• How well a mother is parenting her baby
• Assisting a young person in preparing for a move to their own accommodation

Short term

Up to two years in duration and on a pre-planned basis. However, on occasion it may need to exceed this time period if the plan necessitates an extension of care for a particular reason.

Bridging placements

Normally an emergency placement for children placed with NEWFOCAS after a breakdown with their previous carer. Bridging carers are also responsible for preparing the child for their move to long-term care.

Preventive placements

Working closely with the child / young person's birth family you will address identified problems and facilitate reunification where family breakdown has occurred. There is normally potential for the child / young person to return to the birth family.

Long term placements

These can be for as long as the placement continues to meet the therapeutic needs of the child, which may be until the child attains adulthood.

A new FOCAS on exceptional care...

Carers are required to keep up-to-date daily records and carry out relevant task-focused work for all placement types. It is important that a detailed assessment on each placement's developmental needs is created and maintained to help him / her make good progress.

All placements are reviewed regularly and plans are updated depending on how well the child / young person or parent is doing.

Before accepting a child or young person, carers will receive in-depth training pertinent to that particular placement, and in addition to the basic training given as part of the assessment process.

To find out more about becoming a foster carer, please download the NEWFOCAS prospective Carers E-brochure. Or alternatively, call us on 01244 550 300 or email contact us for further information.