Fostering Glossary
You may recognise some of the following words and phrases used when people talk about fostering and foster carers. We thought it would be helpful to explain their meaning in this foster care glossary.
If you’re still unsure or feel that anything is unclear, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
A senior person within Swiis who makes the final decision on fostering panel recommendations.
The emotional bond to another person. How a child is attached to his or her caregivers, usually birth parents, can have a major influence both during childhood and later in life. At Swiis, we provide our foster carers with attachment training to help support children in placement.
The independent scrutiny and improvement body for care and children’s services. They play a significant role in improving services for adults and children across Scotland by regulating and inspecting care services.
A plan written by the local authority social worker that sets out how a child will be cared for – for example, where they will live, who will look after them and when and how often they might have family contact.
The financial payment made to foster carers for the day to day living expenses for a child in placement, such as clothing and toiletries. This payment is made weekly.
A plan that identifies a child’s needs and how these will be met and how their wellbeing will be improved.
A placement enabling a young adult to remain in the same family placement that they were in immediately before they ceased being looked after.
The partnership between all services responsible for working together to meet the needs of looked after children, young people and care leavers.
The Scottish Government’s approach drive to improve outcomes for all children in Scotland. The aim is that all children in Scotland are given the opportunity to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
IFA’s work in partnership with local authorities to provide placements for looked after children and young people.
Local authorities are the legal guardians of any looked after children and young people.
These are children and young people who are in the care of their local authority. This is sometimes called ‘corporate parenting’ They might be looked after in foster care, kinship care, residential care or at home with their parents.
The impact of activities and interventions to support a child’s development. At Swiis, we measure outcomes using the SHANARRI framework.
Refers to where a young person resides if they have been looked after and accommodated away from home. For example, foster care or a residential school.
There are a number of different types of placements, these include;
Short Break (respite) Placement – Short breaks usually involve a child living with a foster care home having a short stay with another foster family to give the main foster carers a break.
Interim Placement – A placement which has been in place for less than 24 months, not secured by a Permanence Order.
Emergency Placement – An unplanned placement made in an emergency, where no other placement type has been identified by the local authority.
Long Term Placement – A placement which has been in place for longer than 24 months not secured by a Permanence Order.
Permanent Placement– A placement secured by a Permanence Order.
Continuing Care Placement – A placement enabling a young adult to remain in the same family placement that they were in immediately before they ceased being looked after
An acronym for 8 wellbeing indicators – Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included. These indicators are used to structure information recorded about a child or a young person and monitor their progress.
Short breaks usually involve a child living with a foster caring having a short stay with another foster family to give the main foster carers a break.
A placement which has been in place for less than 24 months, not secured by a Permanence Order.
An unplanned placement made in an emergency, where no other placement type has been identified by the local authority.
A placement which has been in place for longer than 24 months not secured by a Permanence Order.
A placement secured by a Permanence Order.
Acronyms
- BAAF – British Association for Adoption and Fostering
- CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
- GIRFEC – Getting It Right For Every Child
- IPA – Individual Placement Agreement
- SSSC – Scottish Social Services Council
- TFN – The Fostering Network
- UNCRC – United Nations Convention of the Rights of a Child
Start Your Fostering Journey
With thousands of children coming into foster care in the UK everyday, we urgently need foster carers more than ever.
Refer a Friend
Do you know anyone who would be a fantastic foster carer who has the skills and compassion to support a child or young person in need of a loving home?
