Respite fostering offers children and young people short-term care with another foster family. It’s designed to give their main foster carers or birth parents time to rest, recharge, or deal with personal circumstances. Breaks can last just a few hours, a weekend, or occasionally stretch over a couple of weeks.

In most cases, respite is planned in advance and happens during weekends or school holidays. But sometimes, respite is needed urgently — for example, when a carer faces illness, bereavement, or another unexpected emergency.

Respite foster carers play a crucial part in maintaining stability for children. They work closely with a child’s main carers to make sure routines and relationships are protected.

Where possible, the child will meet their respite foster carers before the respite begins. Carers are given detailed information about the child - their routines, health needs, dietary requirements, school, clubs, friendships and more. This preparation helps the child feel safe, understood and supported, with minimal disruption to their daily life

Respite care provides several benefits:

• For children and young people: it offers ongoing support, a safe environment, and another positive role model — much like staying with an extended family member.
• For main carers: it reduces stress, prevents burnout and helps carers continue offering stable, long-term care.
• For new foster carers: it can be a way to begin their fostering journey, gradually building experience and confidence.

As Jo and Steve Want, two of our respite carers, explain:

“Respite fostering gives us an opportunity to support children and young people by providing a break from their regular home environment as well as supporting the foster carers to have a break as well. We have welcomed different characters and age groups, providing a range of experiences and activities. It's rewarding to know we are able to help.”