Foster Care

Welcome to Room, helping you to find foster care in Wakefield. Room is the new name for our foster care services, and our aim is to help more children and give them the opportunity to achieve what every child deserves.

Room was created as the number of people getting involved in foster care is diminishing, and this has a dramatic effect on hundreds of children in the region that need the care and stability offered by foster care within their own communities. Lots of people have heard of fostering but it's surprising how many people don't really know how it works or the different ways they could be involved in foster care.

People can contribute by offering a room for a short-term period of even a few weeks and there are lots of other options - from long-term placements to day care - so that lots of people can make room for a child or young person.  
We hope you enjoy finding out more about fostering and can find room in your life to get involved.

Temporary Foster Care

Even if you have limited room and time, you can still become involved in foster care by offering temporary foster care. Short-term and long-term placements aren't the only options as we are also keen to find more temporary foster carers who can offer p care for children and young people.

Temporary foster placements

Temporary foster placements take place for a number of reasons and can last from a few days to several months. It could be for a short period while a family issue is resolved or for a longer time through court proceedings. Looking after a child in a temporary foster situation can be working towards a return to their home or if this is not possible, helping them move to a permanent placement or to adoption.   

Respite

Respite care usually takes place at weekends or holiday times and involves caring for children on a temporary foster care, part-time basis. The children and young people will either live with their birth family or other foster carers.

Parent and Child Placements

A small number of carers offer placements to young people during pregnancy and after the birth of the baby. These temporary foster carers offer help and advice with parenting skills and assess a young parent's ability to care safely for the child.

Connect Carers

Connect Care provides a range of short-break, temporary foster services available to families caring for a disabled child in the Wakefield District. It links children to a carer who is able to provide them with an enjoyable break in a safe, family-based environment. These temporary foster care breaks can last anything from a few hours to a few days.

Connect Carers offer vital support to full-time carers and the temporary foster care breaks provide children with new experiences and allow families to take a well-earned rest from their responsibilities.