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
Fostering can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do, but let’s be honest, it’s not always easy. When people ask, “What’s the hardest part of fostering?”, there’s no single answer. Every carer, child, and situation is different. But there are a few common challenges that many foster carers experience, especially in those…
When people talk about fostering, they usually mean something very simple but powerful. It is about opening your home to care for a child or young person who, for one reason or another, cannot live with their own family. But fostering is much more than just offering a bed and meals. It is about giving…
Can I foster and work full-time? One of the most common concerns people have when thinking about fostering is how it fits around work. Many people ask, “Can I foster and still keep my full-time job?” The answer is yes, it is possible, but it depends on a few key factors. It depends on the…
Progress has earned top marks from Ofsted, proving once again that outstanding care changes lives. Progress Fostering Service has officially maintained its Outstanding rating by Ofsted following its latest inspection, a recognition that reinforces the agency’s longstanding commitment to delivering exceptional care and support to children and young people. The inspection, conducted from 24 to 28 February…
“Do you see me?” is the theme for the 2025 National Learning Disability Week. It is about making sure that people with a learning disability are seen, heard, included, and valued in all aspects of life. The goal is to celebrate what people with a learning disability bring to the society. Annually, the third week…
Walk. Talk. Connect. This Father’s Day – Sunday 16th June at 11:30am, we’re inviting you to join us for the very first Progress Walk and Talk at the beautiful Elvaston Castle and Country Park! Whether you’re a foster carer, friend, family member, or just curious about fostering — this is your chance to unwind, connect,…
Proud, Loud, and Ready for Pride! ️ Happy Pride Month! We’re kicking off this month of love, inclusion, and acceptance with something truly special. The amazing young people at Progress Fostering Service came together to create a vibrant, heartfelt banner, and we will be proudly carrying it at Wolverhampton Pride this Saturday, 7th June! The…
As Toni celebrates her 18th birthday, she reflects on her journey through foster care. This is a heartfelt story of resilience, trust and the life-changing support she found at Progress: Gemma (a team member at Progress Fostering Service) has been very helpful and helped me so much since I’ve been in foster care. She has…
On a recent weekday morning, Carla, the therapeutic development officer at the Ofsted-outstanding Progress Fostering Service, posed the question that frames every support session she runs: Who is this child beyond the label? “Every child is completely individual, regardless of their background and needs,” she regularly tells foster carers when they gather during one of…
At a corner in the Progress Head Office that provides a typical living room setup, Ms. Gill rehearses the ritual that has shaped her days for a quarter‑century with her supportive husband beside her. “Soon as they come in from school, everyone sits,” she says, tapping the surface. “One and a half hours of study…
Foster Care Fortnight 2025 invites us to celebrate The Power of Relationships, those everyday bonds that help children in care feel safe, seen and supported. For Progress foster carer Tom, relationship‑building starts with a games controller as often as it does with a cup of tea. Tom grew up in care himself. After a stint…
Our Easter bash was a riot of colour, crafts, and contagious laughter! Foster families, young people at Progress, and team members gathered in a sun‑kissed garden for: Craft Corner: Glitter flew as kiddos decorated a giant “25” with personal touches—each sparkle a memory! Storytime & Traditions: We dove into Easter’s tales of hope, renewal, and…