Short and long-term foster care

What is foster care?

Fostering is looking after someone's child in your own home at a time when his or her family are unable to do so. This may be due to a number of reasons - such as family illness, relationship difficulties, family breakdown or perhaps a situation where the child or young person's safety is threatened. Wherever possible, brothers and sisters are looked after in the same foster home. As they are based in the community, foster carers are able to maintain links with schools and clubs, and wherever possible, with the child's existing doctor and dentist.

Foster care can last for days, months or in some cases, for years. Most children return home to their families, but some children may need to be fostered for longer and may eventually be adopted.

Who is the service for?

Any child of any family may need to use foster care. It is not just a service for those experiencing poverty, poor housing, family breakdown or abusive situations. Every child and their family are unique; no two family’s circumstances will be the same. These are two examples of children or young people who have needed foster care:

Amrit (13 months) and Dina (4 years) have been living with their widowed mother. She needs emergency treatment for mental illness and there are no relatives who can look after them.
Fifteen year old Jason has just told his teacher a member of his family has sexually abused him for many years. He needs to be somewhere safe for his own protection but also needs to keep in contact with his family and friends. He needs to be placed with foster carers who live close to his school.

Who to contact for more information

If you would like more information about fostering, please contact:

Social Work Family Placement Team
Children's Services
11 Market Street
Galashiels TD1 3AD
(01896 757230
You can also contact your local Social Work office.

You may also find the following information helpful:

What does a foster carer do?
What makes a good foster carer?
British Association for Adoption & Fostering (this link will take you to another website).