Get Started with Olive Branch
If you've been thinking about fostering, reach out to us to talk about taking the first step. We're waiting for someone exactly like you!
Contact us
Respite Foster Care
Respite fostering offers children a safe, welcoming home for a short time while giving their usual carers a planned break. It's a flexible way to support children and foster families when they need it most.
Respite Fostering
Respite fostering provides children with a safe, caring home for a short period while giving their usual foster carers or family a planned break. Although placements are short, the support you provide can make a real difference to both the child and the people who care for them.
Whether you're looking to gain fostering experience or can only commit to short placements, respite fostering is a flexible way to help children when they need it most.
Why is respite fostering so important?
Looking after children can be rewarding, but everyone benefits from a chance to rest and recharge. Respite fostering helps make this possible by providing planned, short-term care that gives children continuity while their usual carers take a break.
For children, respite fostering can also be a positive experience. They have the opportunity to spend time with another trusted foster family, enjoy new activities and build relationships in a safe, supportive environment.
By stepping in for a few days or a weekend, you help ensure children continue to receive the care, stability and reassurance they deserve.
What does respite fostering involve?
Respite placements are arranged in advance and are usually short, ranging from a single day to a weekend or a couple of weeks, depending on the child's needs.
As a respite foster carer, you'll provide the same warmth and everyday care as any other foster carer. This might include:
- Welcoming a child into your home.
- Following their usual routines.
- Encouraging hobbies and activities.
- Providing reassurance and consistency.
- Helping them feel comfortable and settled.
Many respite carers support the same child regularly, helping to build familiar and trusted relationships over time.
Could respite fostering be right for you?
Respite fostering is ideal for people who want to make a difference but cannot commit to caring for a child full time.
It can also be a great way to begin your fostering journey, helping you build confidence and experience while providing valuable support to children and foster families.
If you have a caring nature, a spare bedroom and the time to offer planned short-term care, respite fostering could be the right fit for you.
Support from Olive Branch
When you foster with Olive Branch, you'll receive all the training, guidance and support you need to feel confident in your role.
From your first enquiry onwards, you'll have a dedicated supervising social worker, access to ongoing training and 24-hour support whenever you need advice. You'll never be on your own.
On this page
Other types of fostering
Fostering Teenagers
Teenagers bring unique challenges but also incredible rewards. By fostering teens, you’ll provide guidance and support to help them navigate their formative years towards a brighter future.
Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC)
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arrive in the UK alone, often after harrowing journeys. Foster families provide them with acceptance and stability as they adapt to a new life.
Fostering Siblings
Keeping brothers and sisters together can mean the world to kids in care. By fostering siblings, you’re giving them a chance to stick together, stay connected, and feel safe in a loving home.