Interim fostering

Interested in Interim fostering? Fill in the enquiry form and we’ll get in touch or call 01383 602235 to speak to a member of the team.
Enquiry form

As an Interim foster carer, you will provide full-time care for children and young people aged from birth to 18 years old. They come into care for a variety of reasons and can stay in interim care for periods of time lasting a day or two, up to two years.

The children come from a variety of backgrounds and have different needs. Sometimes they can return home quickly, for others this can take months or even years.

When a child cannot return home there are several options:

  • remain with their foster carer
  • move to a permanent foster carer
  • be adopted
  • live with other family members (kinship care)
  • live in Supported Lodgings
  • lr independently as young adults.

Foster carers will work with a child’s/children’s plan until decisions are made about longer-term plans for that child, which may include a return home. This is a full-time role so the main carer in the family will not be able to work more that 24 hours per week.

Your responsibilities

  • To provide a safe, caring and nurturing home for a child or young person.
  • To support a child’s social and emotional development and ensure their health needs are met.
  • To support a child or young person to keep in touch with people who are important to them.
  • To work as part a team around the child according to their care plan.

Who can be an Interim foster carer?

You don’t need formal qualifications, but you’ll need:

  • patience
  • understanding
  • commitment
  • and some experience of children and young people would be useful.
  • Being able to provide a settled home environment
  • Supportive and caring
  • Making a child feel part of the family
  • Understanding
  • Fun and active
  • Loving
  • Fair
  • Ability to teach life skills
  • Ability to listen
  • Encourage friendships

Fife Council has a duty to make sure that carers are assessed and approved. As part of the process you will be asked to share information about yourself and other people you live with and undertake health and police checks.

The process of application to become an Interim carer should take approximately four months and will involve regular visits to your home. A report will then be completed and shared with you.

The final step is to be referred to the Fostering Panel where you will be approved and then you will begin to have children placed with you.