Emergency fostering is one of the most vital and responsive roles within the fostering community. It provides immediate care for children who need a safe and supportive home at very short notice.
At ÄûÃʵ¼°¹, we are always looking for compassionate, flexible individuals who can open their homes and hearts to children in urgent need.
Page contents
- What Is Emergency Fostering?
- Why Emergency Foster Care is so important
- What does Emergency Fostering look like
- When is Emergency Fostering needed
- Additional support for Emergency Foster Carers
- Thinking about Emergency Fostering and want to learn more?
What is Emergency Fostering?
Emergency foster carers, on a rota basis, provide short-term care for children who are unable to remain in their current home due to an unexpected crisis.
These unplanned placements often occur outside of normal working hours—sometimes in the middle of the night or over a weekend. A child may stay for just a few nights or up to 10 days, while social workers assess the situation and determine the best next steps.
Why Emergency Foster Care is so important
Children placed in emergency care are often experiencing significant distress. They may have been removed from their home due to domestic violence, a sudden illness or death in the family, or serious safeguarding concerns. In these moments of upheaval, emergency foster carers provide more than just a roof over a child’s head—they offer stability, reassurance, and kindness when it’s needed most.
By stepping in during a crisis, emergency foster carers help prevent further trauma and give children the space to feel safe while professionals work to find the best long-term solution.
What does Emergency Fostering look like
Emergency placements are typically short-term, lasting from a few days to a couple of weeks. However, in some cases, they may be extended depending on the child’s needs and the availability of longer-term care.
Children may be placed in emergency care with little or no notice. These situations arise from unforeseen events such as family breakdown, parental illness, or urgent safeguarding concerns. Emergency carers must be ready to respond quickly and calmly.
Children arriving in emergency placements are often frightened, confused, and emotionally vulnerable. They may have experienced trauma or witnessed distressing events. Emergency foster carers play a crucial role in helping them feel safe, valued, and supported during this difficult time.
Emergency foster carers need to be highly adaptable. You must be prepared to welcome a child into your home at any time of the day or night. This role requires patience, empathy, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
The goal of emergency fostering is to provide a temporary safe space while social workers determine the best long-term plan for the child. This could involve returning to their family, moving to a longer-term foster placement, or exploring other care options.
When is Emergency Fostering needed
Emergency fostering may be required in a variety of situations, including:
- Parental illness or hospitalisation is when a parent is suddenly unable to care for their child.
- Domestic abuse is when a child needs to be removed from a dangerous home environment.
- Bereavement, which is following the sudden death of a parent or guardian.
- Safeguarding concerns are when a child’s safety is at immediate risk.
- Family breakdown or violence is when conflict or instability makes it unsafe for a child to remain at home.
Additional support for Emergency Foster Carers
We recognise the unique demands of emergency fostering and provide enhanced support to help you succeed in this role:
- Higher financial allowances – Emergency foster carers receive additional payments to reflect the flexibility and availability required.
- Specialist training – You will receive tailored training to prepare you for the challenges of emergency placements, including trauma-informed care and crisis response.
- 24/7 support – Our team is available around the clock to provide guidance and reassurance whenever you need it.
Thinking about Emergency Fostering and want to learn more?
Take our quick Could You Foster? quiz or order a free brochure to learn more about how fostering could fit into your life.