Types of Care

Download factsheet: Types of Care

When you apply to become a Foster Carer, you can nominate the type of care you would most like to provide. You have the option of providing different types of care at the same time.

Generally children and young people stay in care until they are able to safely return home. Therefore, children and young people can stay in care for varying lengths of time. Where a return to their birth parents is not possible, FACS will make every effort to locate a member of the child’s extended family to care for them. For some children it takes longer to achieve this goal and they need to remain in care for a longer time.

There are generally four types of foster care:

Emergency care

Emergency placements are for children who need an urgent placement because there are concerns for their immediate safety. These placements occur during office hours but also after hours and on weekends. Due to the urgency of these placements there is minimal notice before the child is placed with carers. Usually the child will have an alternative placement organised within 48 hours. Emergency carers need to be able to provide care for very young children at short notice.

Respite care

It is recognised that parents and carers need a break from their caring role from time to time. Foster carers can provide respite care for children placed with other foster carers for short periods of time, eg. school holidays, weekends or for short periods during the week. Respite care is usually planned care and can be scheduled in advance.

Short to medium-term care

These are placements usually up to three to six months in duration. Short to medium-term placements have a strong focus upon reunifying the child with their birth parents or extended family.

Long-term care

These are placements are for over six months’ duration or longer. Long-term placements can become more permanent placements if all options to reunify the child with their family have been unsuccessful.