Respite Care
Sometimes parents or carers need a short break from looking after a child or young person. There may have been extraordinary difficulties at home or a parent may have been ill or have mental health problems and need some time to recover. These children need a family who can look after them during these short periods away from home or their normal foster placement.
Children in respite care need reassurance and understanding to help them cope with the changes in their family life. This time may well be stressful for them as they may be concerned for a parent's health, or angry at having to leave their usual foster family. All children may need to know they will be staying only for short period and then going home.