Specialised and emergency fostering

Children with additional needs and disabilities

We are looking for a number of fostering households who may be interested in children with additional needs or disabilities.

You may have experience of caring for an individual with additional needs already or work in such an environment, and we would encourage anyone who is interested to please get in touch and tell us about your skills or experience.

Emergency, Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE), and Remand fostering

We are looking for a number of fostering households than can accommodate all of these new schemes. In each case we need to look at -

  • foster carer provision
  • flexibility
  • risk assessments if there are children in the household
  • other factors

Emergency fostering

In a case where a child or young person is in need of emergency care while a more permanent fostering placement is found.

PACE bed fostering

This can be between one and three nights (if over a weekend).

In a case where a child or young person is in police custody, charged and to be held for the next available court date or time, the police must consider transferring the individual concerned to local authority accommodation. The term ‘PACE bed’ is commonly used to refer to the transfer of children and young people from police custody to local authority accommodation. This is carried out under section 38(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), and section 21 of the Children Act 1989.

We are currently seeking carers who can offer an overnight PACE bed for these instances. Referrals come from socials worker and are short notice, therefore ongoing availability is essential.

Remand fostering

Aims of remand foster caring are to support a child or young person when they have been to court and it has been adjourned and they can’t return home for their safety.

The aim is for them to avoid being held in custody and to remain in a safe and loving home.

Remand fostering aims to keep young people who have been charged with criminal offences within the community wherever possible and to give them a caring and constructive placement. Foster carers who offer remand fostering are recruited and trained, and together with social workers can work with young offenders to -

  • provide short term, focused intervention in a safe family environment
  • assist the young person through the criminal justice system and help them to look at their offending behaviour
  • help the young person prepare for the decisions of the court such as
    • custody
    • return to a guardian or parent
    • independent living

Remand foster carers have particular responsibility for -

  • escorting the young person to their solicitors and to court appearances
  • promoting attendance at school or other constructive daytime activities
  • managing any conditions such as curfew or police reporting
  • working with the Youth Justice Service and Fostering Team

Remand foster carers are well supported by the Youth Justice Service and Fostering Team, with consistent contact and visits, to assist in the success of the placement.

These fostering placements are often needed urgently, with very short notice. A foster carer who is interested in providing remand fostering must therefore be as flexible as possible in order to be available for these situations. Carers are expected to provide non judgemental support and create an environment where young people can start to plan a positive path for their lives.

A foster carer who takes on the role of remand fostering placement is expected to undertake the relevant training beforehand, to equip them with the correct skills for this type of fostering.