What Is Parent and Child Fostering?

When it comes to fostering, most people think of opening up their home to a child or children on a short-term basis, but in truth there are lots of different types of fostering. Today we’re taking a close look at one particular type of fostering that is often overlooked or misunderstood and answering the question, ‘What is parent and child fostering?’

What Does Parent and Child Fostering Involve?

As its name suggests, parent and child fostering is about caring for both a parent and their child.

As a parent and child carer, you would welcome parents and their baby into your home. This gives new parents the time and space to learn to care for their child in a safe, supportive environment.

Unlike in a traditional fostering scenario, where you would be responsible for the direct, hands-on care of a child, as a parent and child carer, your role is to support new parents to look after their own child. This might involve teaching them parent craft skills, such as how to sterilise bottles and bathe a newborn baby or it might involve supporting them emotionally as they adjust to their new life and role.

Parent and child fostering placements are always short-term. Your parent and child will typically be with you for a minimum of 12 weeks to allow time for parents to find their feet and demonstrate their progress, and a maximum of 6 months.

Why Are Parent and Child Foster Carers Needed?

There is currently a growing demand for parent and child carers to support new parents and their babies.

Parents might need a parent and child fostering placement for many different reasons. They might be very young, or lack family support. They may have had negative parenting experiences growing up. All of this can make it difficult for them to adjust to their role as a new parent or mean they need extra support to care for their baby.

Parent and child foster placements are usually offered to parents with a newborn or very young baby, and are a way for parents and babies to stay together during those crucial early weeks and months. This enables them to form a close bond and to get to know one another in a stable, secure home environment.

Being in this nurturing, supportive environment where they can relax, gives new parents space and time to focus on their baby and learn how to care for them.

Parent and child foster carers work as part of what’s known as a multi-disciplinary team. This team will typically involve lots of different people, such as social workers, midwives, health visitors and other professionals involved, who are all working together to support the new parent to care for their baby.

What Are the Benefits of Parent and Child Fostering?

The benefits of this type of fostering placement for the new parents and babies involved can be huge. If no parent and child placements are available, new parents may end up separated from their child or waiting for a place to become available in a residential family centre. Without the support and advice of experienced carers, young parents may not be able to demonstrate that they can adequately care for their baby and so may end up having their child removed.

Parent and child foster placements give parents who might have had a difficult start in life themselves, the opportunity to break the cycle, and to parent their own children. This means that wherever possible, families are able to stay together.

As a foster carer, there are also lots of fantastic benefits to becoming a parent and child carer. Since these placements are always short-term, it’s an ideal option for people who’d love to foster but can’t commit to longer-term placements. Parent and child carers can also manage their own time, and take breaks between placements as needed.

Parent and child fostering can be an incredibly rewarding thing to do, knowing that you’re supporting parents to give their child the very best start, and working alongside a team of professionals to ensure that babies are being cared for safely and with love.

Plus, like all our Olive Branch foster carers, parent and child foster carers get a generous allowance and package of benefits, including comprehensive training and 24/7 support.

Is Parent and Child Fostering Right For Me?

You may be wondering if parent and child fostering is right for you, and what kind of qualities you might need to become a parent and child carer.

Our parent and child foster carers come from all walks of life and backgrounds but ideally, you’ll have some experience of parenting or caring for young babies, whether through fostering, in a professional capacity or having children of your own.

To be a parent and child carer you need to be warm, approachable and non-judgemental. Many of the parents who are in need of a placement may be understandably wary about coming to live with a stranger in their home and to have their parenting assessed. Being able to quickly establish a rapport and accept people for who they are is therefore key to being a great parent and child foster carer.

You’ll also need to be patient, when teaching parents new skills and helping them with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting and childcare.

As a parent and child carer, you’ll need to be able to step in to support parents when they need it (for example, helping with night feeds if a new mum is exhausted after the birth) but also know when to take a step back and let a mum or dad show they can be a parent.

All foster carers need a spare bedroom in their home, and if you’re considering becoming a parent and child carer, this will need to be large enough to accommodate both a parent and their baby. There should be space for a single or double bed, plus a cot and storage for clothes and baby essentials. It’s expected that parents would share your family living areas, such as your living room or kitchen.

Parent and child fostering might be for you if you prefer the idea of a short-term placement, and if you have knowledge and skills that you could share with a new parent that would help them look after their baby.

Parent & Child Fostering at Olive Branch

If you’re thinking about fostering or you’d like to find out more about becoming a parent and child carer, we’d love to hear from you.

There are lots of great reasons to choose Olive Branch for your fostering journey. You can call us on 01706 558910 or get in touch via our online contact form and one of the friendly Olive Branch Fostering team will get back to you as soon as possible.

We look forward to hearing from you!