Parent and child fostering is a special kind of foster care where parents can be supported together with their child within a foster family. This generally comprises placing a child with either one or both parents in a safe and secure environment where they learn to cope with parenthood.   

Continue reading ahead to learn why parents and children are placed in foster homes: 

Parent and Child Fostering Objective 

On the one hand, parent and child foster care is about monitoring a young person or adult, while on the other, it is about supporting a young person who:  

•           May have previously been in care  

•           May lack self-confidence 

•           May be a victim of domestic violence  

•           May have experienced an abusive childhood  

These are just a few of the many reasons why somebody would become part of a parent and child foster care placement. 

Benefits of Parent and Child Fostering  

Parent and child fostering training holds numerous benefits for both the parent and the child involved.  For starters, the infant or child greatly benefits from being in a secure and stable family environment.  As far as the parent is concerned, they gain invaluable emotional support and skills required for parenthood, such as feeding or holding a baby.  

One other huge benefit of parent and child fostering is that young mothers can also avail themselves the opportunity to continue their studies and finish schooling with the additional support. 

Parent and Child Fostering Training  

Fostering a young family is no joke.  It can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Therefore, foster carers receive special training and support throughout their time as a parent and child foster carer. The training involves everything relating to assessing, caring for, and safeguarding a family, such as: 

•           How to evaluate parenting skills. 

•           How to help parents create and shape relationships with their offspring 

•           How to support parents with learning disabilities  

Types of Parent and Child Fostering Placements  

In Hastings - East Sussex, when the placing authority is apprehensive regarding a parent’s ability to care for and nurture their child safely, they may choose to place them with a qualified parent and child foster carer. Generally, there are three types of parent and child fostering placements in Hastings, that an agency like Anchor Foster Care might place parents and their children in: 

Assessment placements 

These placements typically last for approximately twelve weeks to twenty weeks and involve concluding an assessment report related to the parent’s ability to look after their child. 

Pre-birth placements 

Such placements help parents by preparing them for the birth of their child by making them understand their personal needs as well as the baby’s. 

Parenting supporting placements 

These placements provide basic care, guidance, safety, and warmth for their child. Moreover, it is also provided to parents that need a secure place to live.  

Overall, these services can provide significant support and respite for parents who might find themselves struggling if they were alone. 

So here's the thing... 

We're looking for eagle-eyed team players to specialise as parent and child foster carers. We need more people just like you who can be there to nurture and support parents, and to help keep families together. 

To learn more about parent and child foster caring with us, please contact Anchor Foster Care today. 

We look forward to hearing from you.