Long-term fostering

Interested in Long-term 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 a Long-term foster carer, you will be caring for a child, siblings or young person on a full-time basis. They will have been in an interim placement for longer than two years.

This could be because assessments involving their family are being carried out or they may be waiting for a permanent placement.

You could become a Long-term foster carer if you have been caring for the child/children as an Interim foster carer and it has been agreed that the best plan is for the child, siblings or young person is to remain with you their current foster carer into adulthood.

Your responsibilities

  • To provide a safe, caring and nurturing home for a child or young person until they are at least sixteen, can be up to twenty-one.
  • 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 a Long-term 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 undertakehealth and police checks.

The process of application to become a Long-term 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 place with you.