Long-term fostering

Before a long-term fostering agreement is reached, the fostering service and local authority may have a 'matching meeting' and arrange introductions between the foster carers and the child. Sometimes, existing foster carers may wish to put themselves forward as the long-term carer of a child or sibling group already in their care. In these circumstances, the matching process will still apply, and it may be necessary to change the foster carer's terms of approval to include long-term fostering. This may impact on other types of fostering that the foster carer is approved for.  
 

In long-term fostering arrangements, the child will still be considered 'looked after' by the local authority, and there will still be social workers involved, but there are likely to be less frequent reviews and visits to the home, compared to short-term fostering arrangements. Foster carers in long-term arrangements may also be given increased delegated authority to make more day-to-day decisions for the child. As with all fostering relationships, however, parental responsibility will be held by the local authority and birth parents.