Short-term foster care is for children/ young people whose Care Plan is uncertain. Short-term placements could last a few days, a few weeks, or sometimes a number of years.

The child/ young person may return home, move to live with other family members who have been assessed, move to a long-term fostering or adoption placement or move on to independent living.

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Many short-term placements become very stable, and thus become long-term arrangements. Long-term care requires a commitment from the foster carer to provide care for as long as it is needed. This may be up to the age of 18, and even beyond, under the ‘Staying Put’ arrangement put into place, which is designed to help young people move on to independence when they are ready.