Solo disability foster care

The solo scheme for children with disabilities aims to reduce the use of residential care for young people with complex disabilities and needs. This type of placement is where the child or young person lives with foster carers and is the only child looked after in placement. Foster carers on this scheme will be home based and expected to provide high levels of time and care to the young person placed.

The young person will have a significant disability (or combination of disabilities) which impacts on their ability to access mainstream services without additional support and results in enduring impairment to functional capacity and age expected development and ability. Their disability could include, learning or physical disabilities, sensory impairments, complex health needs, enduring and diagnosed mental health needs and/or autism together with a learning disability.

What will I need to do?

As a Solo Disability foster carer, you will need to:

• Show you have the commitment, patience and ability to care for a child or young person with disabilities and learning needs.
• Encourage and support them to access education and extra-curricular opportunities.
• Recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and adapt the way you parent accordingly.
• Offer a safe and caring environment for a child and help them maintain a relationship with their family and support networks.
• Work with a core group of professionals who will support you to care for the child effectively.
• Commit to developing your own knowledge and attend training.
• Have significant experience of working directly with or caring for children and young people with disabilities and learning needs.
• Have no children under 10 living at home.
• Be available full-time for the child or young person in your care.
• Provide stability and support, communicating with the young person to build a positive relationship to bring about long-term change.
• Be open-minded and have the commitment to make a difference.

What support will I receive?

As a foster carer, you will receive: 

• The support of a dedicated fostering social worker.
• The support of a team of professionals who are working with the young person in your care and who can offer you advice and support.
• Access to a full training programme, some of which will commence during your assessment period.
• A weekly fee of £677.32 plus fostering allowances.
• Support to apply for disability living allowance (DLA) or personal independence payment (PIP) for the young person.
• Support to apply for a grant to adapt properties in order to meet the needs of the child
• Access to a specialist training programme, some of which will start during your assessment period.
• An opportunity to undertake a QCF Diploma for the Children’s Workforce.
• Opportunities for peer support and networking.
• Support from our in-house psychologist.
• Access to 24-hour support via the foster care support line and emergency duty team.