Community short breaks

Could you offer a child a regular short break?

We provide community short breaks to help families who need extra support in their caring role. You care for the same child one weekend a month, giving them a safe and enjoyable time while their family gets a planned break. This support can make a big difference and helps families stay together.

Short breaks help many different families, including kinship carers, parents of children with additional needs and single parents with limited support. We work closely with families and match each child carefully with a carer.

What you’ll do as a short breaks carer

As a community short breaks carer, you will:

• care for a child in your home one weekend a month
• collect and return the child, giving parents a chance to share information
• work with social work staff and attend meetings when needed
• work closely with parents to meet their child’s needs
• take part in training to support you in your role

You can be single or a couple, employed or unemployed. You must be over 21 and have a spare bedroom. Couples must have lived together for at least two years. We cannot accept applications from smokers who want to care for a child under five, or for any child with a respiratory condition.

What we look for

We need carers who are warm, calm and patient. Some children may have had difficult experiences and may show distressed behaviour. You should feel able to manage challenging situations and build a positive relationship with the child and their family.

How the assessment works

The assessment is similar to fostering and usually takes up to six months. It includes:

• home visits
• training sessions
• checks on health, employment history, criminal records and references
• a final report and meeting with the Fostering Panel

If approved, you will have a supervising social worker and access to ongoing training, support and a 24 hour advice service.

Fees and allowances

You receive an allowance and a weekly skills fee, both paid pro rata:

You can also claim for equipment and travel costs. Foster carers are self-employed. More information about finances is available on the Fostering Network website.

Ready to apply?

If you’d like to offer a child regular short breaks, we’d be happy to hear from you.