Family placement provides fostering and adoption placements for children who have a learning, sensory or physical disability. We also care for children with degenerative or life threatening disorders or complex needs.
The types of placements we provide
We offer a range of services to work flexibly with the individual needs of children and their families.
Temporary fostering where a parent is ill or unable to look after their child, where an assessment may be required or while care proceedings are ongoing through the courts. These placements can last from a few days, weeks or months and children will need support in returning to their birth families or move onto more permanent placements.
Shared care is an arrangement where a child's care is shared between their parents and foster carers. The child spends a minimum of 120 days with the foster carer and these arrangements can be flexible to suit changing needs.
Permanent placements some children are unable to live with their birth families on a permanent basis. Long term foster care provides planned placements for children and young people often for a number of years. Many children are still in contact with their birth families so a key responsibility for long term carers is supporting contact for their fostered child(ren). Children who need this type of fostering are normally school age.
Adoption (see separate section )
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply to be a family placement foster carer?
We welcome applications from single people, couples and families from all cultural and religious backgrounds. We do not operate an upper age limit for applicants although we would need to take into account health and circumstances if applicants were retirement age at the time of application. It would be unusual for us to take up applications from people under 25 years of age.
Do I need any special qualifications to foster?
In 2008 we moved towards a "payment for skills" model, this is a new payments and support model for the Leeds fostering service which rewards our foster carer's skills and experience particularly for foster carers who are looking after children and young people with more complex needs. Most carers on the family placement fostering, permanency and adoption service are level four carers. This is the highest most skilled and experienced fostering provision and requires certain skills, competencies and/or related experience.
However if you are concerned you do not have the necessary experience please contact us to discuss your personal situation. Some applicants agree to undertake a period of fostering for our short breaks service so that they can develop their skills in this area.
Do I need to have a particular type of accommodation?
You may own your own home, rent from the local authority, rent privately - what is more important is you are able to realistically offer space for a fostered child appropriate to their needs. In the majority of situations it is beneficial if children have their own room, but we would need to discuss this with you. If you want to care for a child with complex physical disabilities your home will need to be suitable for their needs or appropriate for adaptation.
What checks are needed if I apply to foster?
If we agree to receive an application from you then we will ask for your consent to enable us to take up criminal record bureau and other required checks. If a conviction is disclosed we would need to discuss this with you. Certain convictions for example offences against children and offences of violence will prevent us proceeding with an application. Please refer to the fostering policy page for more detail.
We will also need to check applicants' health and ask you via your GP to undertake a routine medical. We only do this once we have agreed to start your assessment. If there are any health issues that could affect an ability to foster then we would discuss this with you.
What is involved in assessment and preparation?
During the assessment process we need to work together at finding out what you have to offer, build on your existing skills and knowledge and prepare you for the fostering task. Fostering staff will visit you at home on a regular basis and together we need to provide a report and portfolio for a fostering panel to consider your approval. If you have older children they will be included during the preparation process too.
You will have the opportunity to attend two courses during the assessment. Firstly, the family placement preparation course which will highlight issues relating to caring for disabled children in your home. Secondly, a course called the Skills To Foster which is run by fostering staff and experienced foster carers, this will give an overview of fostering for us and the issues involved. Meeting with other foster carers during the preparation process can be an invaluable way of finding out more about fostering.
How long does assessment and preparation take?
We need time to get to know you and you need to be sure that fostering is right for you. From start to finish the whole assessment and preparation process is likely to take about six months. At the end of this process you will be approved by a fostering panel for a level of fostering on our payment for skills model.
What support can I expect as a foster carer?
All our approved foster carers receive a comprehensive range of support including training, skills recognition (including NVQ and new CWDC standards training) and regular inclusion in the monthly carer support group. All carers receive support for their fostering commitments via a supervising fostering worker - very often the same worker who has built up a relationship with you via preparation and assessment. We work closely with other social work staff to help ensure a team approach to assist carers with the demands presented by the children they care for.
If you would like more information about fostering for family placement please contact us on 0113 2478939 or email us at familyplacementchildren@leeds.gov.uk.
For further information on fostering generally please see the fostering homepage link on this page.