Long-term fostering involves providing care for a child or young person until they reach the age of 18 (and beyond, under a Staying Put policy).
The local authority will seek to match the child or young person (and their siblings if, appropriate) with foster carers who are willing to make a long-term commitment to caring for them, and can meet their current needs and those likely to arise in the future.
Long-term fostering provides stability for children who cannot return to their own families, or where other types of permanent care, (such as special guardianship, kinship foster care, or adoption) are not suitable.