National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services

1.	Managing the fostering service
2.	Securing welfare
3.	Promoting welfare
4.	Staff
5.	Records kept by the service
6.	Fostering panels
7.	Other types fostering placements

7. Other types of fostering placements


Short term placements.
This is where arrangements have been made for a child to stay with the same foster carer but:

• No single stay lasts for more than 4 weeks, and
• The total amount of time spent with the carer does not exceed 120 days in a 12 month period

Where foster care is provided as a short-term break for a child, the arrangements should recognise that the parents remain the main carers for the child.

Family and friends as carers. If a local authority feels there is a situation where a child needs to be placed immediately with someone, they can place a child with a person who is not an approved foster carer, as long as:

• The person is a relative or friend of the child
• They have interviewed the person
• Checked the accommodation
• Checked about other people living in the house
• The placement is for no longer than 6 weeks
• The person has made a written agreement with the authority setting out certain duties they will follow.