Parent & Child Fostering

Every child deserves to grow up safe, loved and cared for, and every parent deserves the chance to show they can provide that. Parent and Child Fostering makes this possible.

Parent and Child Fostering — sometimes called Parent and Baby fostering — is a specialist type of fostering where a parent (or sometimes both parents) and their baby or young child live with a foster carer, for a limited period of time.

The foster carer’s role is not to replace the parent. Instead, you provide a safe, stable home where the parent can look after their child, while you offer guidance, encouragement and support. Sometimes this means gentle reassurance, like helping a parent learn bedtime routines. Other times, it means close supervision and firm boundaries when a child’s safety is at risk. 

This type of fostering is about more than keeping a child safe. It’s about giving families the best chance to stay together. It allows parents to build skills and confidence in a real family setting, while children grow up feeling secure and cared for.

Who Can Foster

At Rees Parent and Child Fostering, we welcome applications from individuals, couples and families from all walks of life. What matters most is that you can provide a safe, stable and supportive home, and that you approach the role with patience, care and professionalism.

You don’t need to have fostered before. Many of our carers will bring transferable experience from teaching, childcare, social work, healthcare, early years settings or supporting vulnerable adults. What’s important is that you are calm under pressure, committed to safeguarding and able to understand and respond to the needs of others.

To be a parent and child foster carer, you’ll need:

  • Strong awareness of safeguarding and child protection 
  • The ability to support “good enough” parenting, even if it’s not perfect 
  • An understanding of attachment and how to encourage healthy bonds 
  • Good communication and record-keeping skills, as your observation helps inform care planning 
  • Time at home – usually one carer needs to be available full-time 
  • A spare bedroom large enough for both a parent and their child, or a baby’s cot if needed

If you already have children at home, this isn’t a barrier. We simply work with you during assessment and matching to make sure everyone in the household is supported properly.

Assessment process

Becoming a foster carer is a big step, and it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Our assessment process is there to keep children safe, but it’s also there to support you, prepare you and your family so you feel guided and prepared at every stage of the fostering process.

Here’s what your journey will look like:

Initial chat

A friendly conversation where you can ask questions and find out if fostering could be right for you.

Parent and Child Fostering comes in different forms, depending on what each family needs. The level of support and supervision varies depending on the needs of the parent and child, but in every case, the child’s safety and wellbeing comes first.

Types of Placements

Pre-birth Placements

Supporting expectant parents in the final stages of pregnancy and the early days with their newborn. The focus with pre-birth placements is on preparing for birth, learning about newborn care, and building confidence as a parent.

Support Placements

Parents take the lead in caring for their child, while foster carers provide encouragement, guidance and a safe environment. This type of arrangement allows parents to develop everyday parenting skills in a real-life setting, with supervision levels varying from standard to enhanced depending on the family’s needs.

Assessment Placements

A more closely supervised arrangement, often lasting around 12 weeks. Foster carers provide daily observations and records that contribute to a formal parenting assessment (using tools such as ParentAssess). These assessments are fair, trauma-informed, and adapted for parents with additional needs. They are carried out in partnership with local authority or selected independent social workers.

Transfer to Us

Thinking about transferring to a new fostering agency?

 If you’re exploring the idea of moving to a new agency, we’re here to make the process clear, simple, and fully supported from start to finish.

At Rees Parent and Child Fostering, we specialise in parent and child placements and work closely with our carers to provide the guidance and support needed for each family you work with.

We’ll ensure a smooth transition for you, your family, and any children currently in your care, so you can focus on what matters most — making a difference in the lives of parents and children.

Get in touch to find out more about joining the Rees family. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and talk you through the next steps.

Enquire About Fostering