Short Stay fostering
Do you have free, an evening per week, a weekend each month or availability during school holidays to make a difference to a child’s life? If you have, and you have a spare bedroom, you may be the perfect fit to become a Short-Stay foster carer with Coventry.
What is Short Stay fostering?
Short stay fostering is a type of fostering for a child or children who are either living with foster carers or who are still living at home with their family. Short stay fostering is for a set period, typically ranging from one night or up to 2 weeks.
An example of a short stay may include care to a child on a regular basis. We always seek to support families to identify family led solutions, but this is not always possible. This was the scenario for a single parent, who was having weekly treatment for a health condition and her son aged 8. A short stay foster carer would care for Tom every Wednesday evening, enabling his mother to attend her medical treatment. This overnight stay provided her the time and space to care for herself following treatment and Tom the time to build a relationship with the fostering family. Tom would look forward to his time with his fostering family and have time to do fun things with them.
He was often worried about his mother and would share his worries with his carers. His mother built an amazing relationship with the fostering family and felt she now had a support network, feeling less isolated and confident he was having the opportunity to experience new things that most 8-year-olds do. Tom said “I love going to Jenny’s (foster carer), i worry about my mum a lot, but know that on a Wednesday she doesnt have to worry about me. Jenny takes me to the park and sometimes we do cooking or other stuff. She helps me with schoolwork too”.
One of our Coventry foster carers said “Short stays give children the chance to experience new environments, build relationships, and develop independence, while providing carers valuable time to rest, recharge, and nurture their own well-being. This supportive balance fosters resilience in both children and caregivers, enhancing the quality of care and sustaining family harmony over the time. Short stays like this offer essential relief and renewal, allowing caregivers to continue providing compassionate support with energy and commitment”.
Why children may need Short Stay fostering?
There are many reasons why children might need short-stay fostering. It not only provides great support for the child but also offers a break for their parents or carers. Reasons why children may need short stay fostering include:
- The unexpected illness or passing of a caregiver
- To support the child’s parent or carer
- Situations within the family home
Roles and responsibilities of Short Stay foster carers:
The roles and responsibilities of a Short Stay foster carer include:
- Provide a safe and secure environment for children to carry on their day-to-day life
- Working together with social workers, teachers, and healthcare providers involved in the child’s care.
- Offer emotional support and understanding, especially during times of uncertainty.
- Facilitate access to education and extracurricular activities.
- Attend meetings as required.
- Encourage positive relationships between the child and their birth family, if in the child’s best interest.
- Keep detailed, accurate records about the child’s behaviour, progress, and any incidents.
How much do Short Stay foster carers get paid?
The fee for short-stay foster carers is determined by the duration of care provided. Payments are pro-rata, meaning the amount you receive will depend on the length of the child’s stay. Additionally, you will receive an allowance for the time the child is in your care, calculated based on their age.
View our fostering fees leaflet
Foster with Coventry
If you want to find out more about fostering with Coventry including the different types of fostering arrangements, please give the team a ring on 024 7683 2828 or visit – http://www.coventry.gov.uk/fostering
