Parent and child fostering is one of the most specialist and rewarding types of foster care. Instead of caring for a child on their own, the foster carer welcomes a parent and their baby or young child into their home. The aim is to help the parent develop the skills and confidence they need to care for their child safely.
This guide explains what parent and child fostering involves, what the role asks of carers, and the support and pay available.
What Is a Parent and Child Placement?
In a parent and child placement, a foster carer looks after a parent, usually a mother, and their child or children at a time when they need extra advice and support. The parent may be young, may have been in care themselves, or may be facing difficulties that mean professionals need to understand more about their parenting.
The foster carer is there to teach and support the parent, so that they can hopefully move on to independence with their child. These placements are often short term and focused on a clear goal.
What Does the Role Involve?
Parent and child fostering is different from other types of fostering. The table below sets out the main parts of the role.
| Part of the Role | What It Involves |
| Teaching and modelling | Showing the parent how to feed, bathe, settle, and care for their baby, and helping them build routines |
| Life skills | Supporting the parent with cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and other skills for independent living |
| Emotional support | Building the parent's self-esteem and social skills, and helping them cope with any trauma they have experienced |
| Observing and recording | Keeping detailed daily logs of what you see, both positive and negative |
| Contributing to assessments | Where there are concerns about parenting capacity, your observations help inform the assessment |
Because of the reporting involved, parent and child carers need to be organised, observant, and comfortable writing clear, honest records.
Who Makes a Good Parent and Child Carer?
This role often suits people who are experienced foster carers or who have a background in health, midwifery, nursing, early years, or social care. Good parent and child carers are usually:
- Patient and Non-Judgemental: Many parents in these placements have had difficult lives and need encouragement, not criticism.
- Good Teachers: You need to guide a parent without simply taking over.
- Observant and Organised: Accurate recording is a central part of the role.
- Emotionally Resilient: These placements can be intense, and outcomes are not always what everyone hopes for.
Pay and Tax Relief for Parent and Child Carers
Because parent and child fostering is specialist work, it is paid at a higher rate. With Lighthouse Fostering, specialist parent and child carers could receive up to £49,660 a year, plus a parent and child new placement support payment.
Parent and child carers can also use HMRC Qualifying Care Relief. HMRC guidance confirms that, in a parent and child placement, the carer can claim a weekly amount for each of the people being cared for. For the 2026 to 2027 tax year, the weekly amounts are £435 for a child under 11 and £515 for anyone aged 11 or over, on top of a fixed household amount of £20,440. Always check HMRC's guidance for the tax year you are filing.
Training and Support for Parent and Child Carers
No carer should take on a parent and child placement without specialist preparation. At Lighthouse Fostering, carers receive:
- Specialist Training: Courses include parent and child placements and advanced adult safeguarding for parent and child carers.
- Therapeutic Training: Every carer is offered our 12-week therapeutic parenting course.
- Clinical Support: Our in-house psychotherapist can offer clinical supervision and emotional support.
- A Dedicated Supervising Social Worker: A qualified social worker who visits regularly and helps you with recording and assessments.
- Support 24 Hours a Day: Our trained team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Could You Support a Young Family?
Parent and child fostering gives you the chance to help a parent and their baby stay together safely and build a better future. Explore specialist parent and child fostering opportunities with our team, or get in touch to find out whether this role could be right for you.