Alternatives to fostering

There are alternative options to fostering with us such as supported lodgings and shared care. You'll also find information on private fostering arrangements.

Supported lodgings
Shared care
Private fostering
Contact us
Supported lodgings

Supported lodgings

The supported lodgings scheme provides a supportive home environment for young people over the age of 16 years. Young people move to supported lodgings from a variety of settings such as children’s homes, foster care and from placements outside Hertfordshire and will be in education, training or employment.

As a supported lodgings carer, a young person will stay in your home where you'll help them to develop key life skills, such as budgeting and cooking, to better prepare them to move on and live independently. With your commitment and guidance, you'll help them make a successful start in life.

Find out more about our supported lodgings scheme

Support for carers

Supported lodgings carers are provided with:

an allowance that covers accommodation, food and utility costs
a named supervising social worker who will visit you regularly
access to training, development, support groups and social opportunities
rent contribution if the young person is over 18 years.

Get in touch with any questions you have on shared care, supported lodgings or private fostering.

Privacy notice – Please read before submitting your information >

When you submit this form you are sending your information to Hertfordshire County Council (as the Data controller) the data on this form is being gathered for the purpose of providing further information regarding fostering. Hertfordshire County Council will use this information to contact you to discuss your interest further.

This information is being gathered and will be processed on the basis that you are giving consent for us to do so. If you wish to withdraw consent at any time you can do so by contacting us by email at Fostering.Recruitment@hertfordshire.gov.uk or on 0800 917 0925.

The information you give us will be held by the fostering and adoption recruitment team of Hertfordshire County Council and will only be used to contact you further to discuss your interest.

We will not share this information with a third party or use it for any other purpose.

When you are contacted, further information will be sought and recorded during this interview which will include personal data. This information will be used to create an electronic record, which will be held confidentially on our HCC computer system and will be used to store all relevant communications and documents in relation to your application. This will form part of your fostering or adoption case file.

Information about your initial enquiry will be kept on file for 2 years.

Information held on your fostering or adoption case file will be kept for a maximum of 102 years if you apply and are successful, 35 years if you apply and are unsuccessful or eight years if you withdraw your application during the process. For more information, including how to remove your data, visit our website privacy policy.

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Shared care

Shared carers are trained volunteers who've been assessed and checked to care for disabled children under the age of 18. They give parents a break by looking after their disabled child or young person for short periods of time.

Visits can be anything from a few hours a week after school, some time at the weekends and in the school holidays, or even a regular weekend stay. The time you give is flexible and can fit around your life and schedule.

As a shared carer, you can look after children in your own home or at the child's home. You can also take them out and spend time enjoying hobbies and activities that interest them.

Support for shared carers

You'll attend a preparation course and will receive full training and support, be paid an allowance for expenses and will be covered by insurance.

You'll be assessed to find out about your interests and suitability before being introduced to the family. The needs of the child will be specifically matched to your skills and interests to ensure you build a good relationship and the child enjoys their short breaks away from their family.

Become a shared care volunteer

Private fostering

Private fostering is when the parents of children under the age of 16, or 18 if they have a disability, make arrangements for someone else to care for their children for 28 days or longer.

Private foster carers can include:

other family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins
a step-parent who is not married to the parent of that child
friends

Parents or private foster carers need to notify us of any private fostering arrangements. We'll then allocate a social worker who will provide support and advice for you and the children you care for.

For more information see our private fostering guides and statement of purpose.

Contact us

Call us for more information on:

0300 123 4043

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Alternatives to fostering

Supported lodgings

Shared care

Private fostering

Contact us

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