Fostering -<br />
Services

Fostering -
Services

Placements

Short-Term Fostering

If a child or young person are in care proceedings or their parent(s) or caregivers are unable to currently look after them, then a Short-term fostering placement will be sourced.

During a short-term placement Progress foster carer’s may undertake task-centred work with the child/young person and their families towards reunification, preparing a child/young person for joining a permanent family (adoption), or for moving into supported accommodation or independent living.

Most Progress foster carers are approved for Short-term fostering. All Progress Foster carers are provided with relevant training, out of hours support, and have a dedicated social worker who supports and supervises their practice.

Progress foster carers can provide placements with a Short-term stay for several months or until the child/young person are able to return home to their own family.

We can also support children and young people with a longer-term fostering placement or until an adoption arrangement can be made.

Long-term Fostering

If a child or young person can no longer live with their family, Progress can offer a long-term foster placement.

Long-term fostering allows children/young people within care, to continue living with a family where they can feel safe, secure, and with the ability to maintain contact with their birth family. A long-term placement usually continues throughout the remainder of the child/young person’s childhood and until they can be prepared for and achieve independent living.

Foster carers will consider what skills and experience they can offer and what placement type would be a match to their family and lifestyle. Progress also offers advice and information to its carers about the types of foster care needed.

Some carers can care for children and young people regardless of their age (babies pre-school, or teenagers), gender and ethnicity. At Progress we also have carers that are specialists in caring for children and young people with disabilities, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young parents and their babies.

Foster carers can care for up to three children at once; however, some exceptions are made to keep larger sibling groups together.

Emergency
Foster Care

Progress can support local authorities with emergency placements. We have foster carers who are ready to take a child or young person into their home at any given time and for a number of days if required.

Progress foster carers understand that this would be an ‘unplanned’ placement and used at short notice.

An example of this could be when a single parent is taken into hospital and, there is no one else able to care for their child. In these situations, Progress understands that there may be limited information on the child before placement occurs.

Short Breaks/Respite Fostering

Short Breaks fostering gives a family or a child/young person’s full-time foster carer a break in care. This type of placement is flexible and can range from a few hours a week to every other weekend.

Progress foster carers support and care for a wide range of children and young people, allowing them to re-charge their batteries is essential so that they can continue to provide the best care. This type of placement can only be made possible by having trained respite foster carers available to care for children/young people when carers require a break.

Progress aims to ensure that the child or young person is cared for by the same foster carer each time they receive a short break. Progress feels it is important that the child/young person have familiar, consistent care and share the same happy experiences as they would staying with grandparents, relatives, or friends.

Maintaining a personalised approach throughout, the same ‘matching’ process as with short- and long-term placements will take place. The child/young person will meet their short break carers prior to their first stay and will be contacted by a Progress social worker during their short break to ensure that they are happy and safe.

As with short- and long-term placements, Progress provides all its short breaks foster carers with relevant training, out of hours support, and a social worker that will continually support and supervise their practice.

Latest Fostering News

Progress Fostering Service today held its much-anticipated Annual Fostering Panel Day, a significant occasion for reflection, collaboration, and forward planning. The event brought together panel members, supervising social workers, and other stakeholders, including Tina Bhardwaj, Head of Children’s Services, and Michelle Earp, the recently appointed Fostering Manager. The day was designed to strengthen the fostering…

Progress Fostering Service is delighted to announce the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Challenge, an annual tradition that highlights the creativity and festive spirit of the young people within our outstanding fostering service. After receiving stunning entries, the winning design was chosen for its originality, vibrant colours, and heartfelt holiday theme.  The winner, a…

Standing Up to Bullying: Voices from Progress  For Anti-Bullying Week 2024, the young people at Progress opened their hearts and shared their thoughts on the many faces of bullying and the possibility of change. Their voices are raw, real, and deeply moving, painting a picture of both the harm caused by bullying and the hope…

Fostering can be very hard work…but the heart and soul you put into it can truly transform lives. Hello! We’re Julie and David, and we want to share our journey as foster carers with you. It’s been a path filled with challenges and rewards, and we’re excited to offer a glimpse into our lives as…

Progress Children’s Service is delighted to announce the appointment of Michelle Earp as Fostering Manager of its outstanding Progress Fostering Service. Michelle brings nearly a decade of experience within Progress, where she has worked closely with both foster carers and children, helping to build a strong, supportive, and family-like environment that prioritises the well-being of…

Fostering as a Single Person or in a Relationship  Fostering a young person is one of the most rewarding and impactful decisions one can make. However, potential foster parents often have questions about their eligibility based on their personal circumstances. At Progress’ outstanding fostering service, we receive numerous inquiries about whether being single or in…

Pets and fostering: Enhancing the fostering household experience  When considering fostering, many prospective foster carers wonder how their pets might affect their eligibility. At Progress’ outstanding fostering service, we often receive questions about whether having pets is a barrier to fostering. Our supervising social worker provides reassuring insights into this common concern.  One key question…

WOLVERHAMPTON, 22nd July 2024 – Progress is thrilled to announce the launch of the “My Progress Value” Holiday Challenge, a stimulating initiative aimed at celebrating the creativity and talent of young people across Progress’ homes and foster care network. From Tuesday 23rd July to Friday 30th August, participants will have the opportunity to express their…

Bal Dhanoa, Founder and Chief Executive of Progress Care Solutions, is set to receive an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List. She receives the MBE for her outstanding work with children and families. This prestigious honour recognises her outstanding contributions to social care over the…

Are you considering becoming a foster carer? At Progress, we understand the journey can be both rewarding and challenging. Amanda, one of our dedicated foster carers, shares how the support groups at Progress have been invaluable to her and can be for you too.  “I’ve really enjoyed coming along to the support groups,” Amanda begins….

“It’s like when you have your first child yourself. You don’t know what you’re doing, but you’ve read it in a book. With fostering, you do know what you’re doing but again, you’ve read it in a book and putting it into practice is different.”  Fostering is more than just a vocation; it’s a heartfelt…

Pervina and Manoj are a vibrant couple whose hearts are filled with the hope of providing a loving home to a child in need. Pervina first harboured the desire to foster, and one day, while scrolling through Facebook, she stumbled upon an advertisement that sparked the idea into reality.  “It started off as mine,” Pervina…