Alternative care is when you foster a child for a short time, during weekends and school holidays.
Sometimes children need to stay with a foster family to give their permanent carers a break. Through alternative breaks, children can meet new people, make new friends and get involved in different activities.
As an alternative carer, you'll give families or foster carers short breaks, caring for children at weekends or during school holidays. The child you care for would be staying with you overnight.
Alternative care could suit you if you can't make a full-time commitment, but still want to foster.
We're currently looking for alternative carers for children over seven years old.
"You can foster part time, giving children the opportunity to develop positive relationships with you while their carers have well deserved breaks. The child gets to experience weekends away doing new activities, playing with different children and spending time with another trusted adult. By offering weekend breaks you become part of both the child and carer's extended family - a bit like grandparents having their grandson for the weekend so Mum can relax."
Alex Taylor, alternative foster carer
