Types of care

Foster carers will look after you in their home as part of their family until you can go home to live with your own parents, family members or live independently. You may live with your foster family for a short time, just at weekends, or you may live with them for a long period of time up until you are 18.

Connected persons means you may be looked after by a family member, a family friend or someone who is connected to you. They have to be checked out to make sure they are safe and suitable for you to live with.

They will become your carers, and depending on the plans for your future, you may live with them for a short period or a longer period of time.

A residential home is normally larger than a foster home. There are more adults in a residential home who are professional staff. They do not live in the home but work there on shifts. There are always staff in the home.

You will also live with other young people who are in care.

Some young people move to independent aged 16+. These provisions are flats or rooms where you have support from adults on site – this is very much about you living more independently.

Respite care provides short-term placements for children with the same carer. Respite care usually takes place on weekends or during school holidays in order to support an existing foster carer or family member.

The guides below are really useful – your social worker or IRO can get you a hard copy of these:

• Children in Care guide
• Teenagers in Care guide