Fostering and Respite Care
Respite care is a key service in the foster home system, providing help to both carers and children for limited time periods. It is meant to give foster families a much-needed rest but also keeps kids in care benefiting from safe and nurturing services.
What Is Respite Care?
Respite care: short-term relief when a foster child stays with another approved carer for a short time period – like over a weekend or in some cases longer. It is not about taking kids away from what may be the best foster home they ever have, it’s about giving everyone a break so that they can all get rejuvenated.
Why Is It Important?
Looking after someone else is not easy. Fostering is an exhausting job on a physical and emotional level. Respite care – rest for carers, time to go shopping or out with friends – It helps to prevent burnout and allows carers the ability to provide consistent, quality care for the long-term. For information on Foster Care Bridgend, visit https://saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/bridgend/
Benefits for Children
Children can benefit from a change of scenery and the opportunity to connect with other trusted adults through respite care. It can reduce stress, particularly in placements where children present with complex needs or behaviours. It can also provide cues to a child that they have a larger support network.
Supporting Stability
Respite care supports and maintains the stability of placements for foster carers, supporting their resilience in a challenging role. That is a big part of the foster care community – everyone must have what they need to succeed.
