Parent and child foster care Home Types of fostering Parent and child foster care Supporting families to thrive As part of our specialist fostering schemes, Parent and Child foster care can be challenging, demanding and emotionally rewarding in equal measure. That's why we provide enhanced training, dedicated professional support and increased financial recognition to carers who take on these important roles. If you have experience supporting families, you may already have the skills needed to become a specialist Parent and Child foster carer. Parent and Child Foster Carers provide a safe, nurturing home where one or both parents and their child can live together while the parent's ability to safely care for their child is assessed and developed. This specialist role combines support, observation and assessment to help determine a child's future care arrangements. The scheme offers a family-based alternative to residential assessment services and helps parents strengthen their parenting skills in a supportive environment. Assessments are usually completed over a 12-week period. What you'll do Support parents in developing parenting skills. Observe and record daily care. Provide guidance and modelling. Contribute to professional assessments and court proceedings. Promote safe and nurturing parenting. Ideal for carers who Have excellent observation skills. Are confident keeping detailed records. Can balance support with professional curiosity. Want to help families achieve positive outcomes. Have at least one carer who is home-based and available full-time. Have at least one spare bedroom. Leave and flexibility Fees paid for 52 weeks of the year. Twenty-eight days annual leave. Opportunities to support other specialist schemes when Parent and Child referrals are not active. 12 week planned care arrangements. What support will I receive? All specialist foster carers benefit from: A dedicated supervising social worker. Specialist training and development opportunities. Regular supervision and support groups. Multi-agency professional support. Access to therapeutic and specialist advice. Family Support Worker assistance. Regular support calls and home visits. Out-of-hours support from the Emergency Duty Team. Access to the Children in Care Support Line. Competitive fees and allowances. Download our 2026/2027 Finance Guide here.