Step down fostering is a type of fostering that helps move children out of residential homes into a more stable, supportive family environment.
Caring, supportive and stable family environments are the best places for children to learn, grow and thrive.
This is why step down fostering is essential.
The need for step down foster carers is growing and finding suitable foster carers is essential for the wellbeing of children and young people.
What is step down fostering?
Although step down fostering is open to anyone who meets the requirements, it is considered a more specialised type of fostering. It can however, be one of the most rewarding.
Step down fostering is usually part of a transition plan to move children and young people out of a more structured, residential care environment into a family-based home. Often there has been therapeutic support for the child so that they are emotionally ready to move back into a family environment at their own pace and with gradual introductions.
Children who need this type of foster care may have a range of individual strengths and complex needs that require enhanced care, understanding, and additional support or supervision.
Many of the people, but not all, who choose to provide step down fostering, are individuals and couples who have experience where they have worked in a caring role with children, or provided public services in related areas. This may include:
- Social workers
- Teachers
- Police Officers
- Nurses
What is a residential home?
A children’s residential care home is a place where children and young people who cannot safely live with their families are cared for by trained staff in a shared living environment. These homes provide accommodation, daily care, emotional support, education support, and safeguarding for children who need it.
Unlike foster care, where a child lives with a family, residential care involves a team of carers working in shifts to support several children living together. Residential homes aim to provide stability, safety, routines, and therapeutic support while helping children develop life skills, relationships, and independence.
Not all children in residential homes are there because they need additional support and care. When a child needs a foster placement, the first step is to look at family members known as kinship fostering. If this is not possible, local authority foster carers are explored, followed by the independent fostering sector.
Unfortunately, due to the demand for foster placements, often there are not the foster placements out there to provide this support, and a residential children’s home is the only option.
Therapeutic support
Therapeutic fostering support is the extra specialist help provided to foster carers and children when a child has experienced significant trauma, abuse, neglect, attachment difficulties, or emotional and behavioural challenges.
The idea is that the foster family becomes part of the child’s healing and recovery - not just a safe place to live.
For foster children in particular, therapeutic support can improve emotional regulation, attachment, confidence, behaviour, and coping skills while reducing anxiety, depression, and the long-term effects of neglect or instability. It can also support carers and families by improving communication, strengthening trust, and helping everyone respond more effectively to a child’s emotional and developmental needs.
What we offer
Due to the distinct skills required to be a step down foster carer, there is additional support provided. This includes:
- Increased fostering allowance and fees
- Specialist therapeutic training
- Increased social work support and visits
Can you work while being a step down foster carer?
Step down foster carers generally don’t work due to the extra time, support and attention they need to provide. If you are fostering as a couple it is generally fine for one of you to work as long as the other can provide for the child or young person needs.
Want to learn more about step down fostering?
Learn more about step down fostering by contacting our team on 0300 019 0200 or by completing our enquiry form here.
