3D fostering
3D fostering is an intensive ‘treatment' foster care scheme, for children with complex needs. The foster carer works closely with a team of professionals providing support around the child in placement. The scheme provides a single placement for a child, up to 16 years of age, for a maximum period of 18 months. There should not be any other children living in your home under 18 years of age. There are well established guidelines about how children are managed in placement and a salary is paid in addition to the fostering allowance.
All 3D placements have full access to a dedicated team of experts including psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, therapists, skills workers and social workers. The significant difference in 3D fostering is that the team help the carer implement and manage the behaviour programme on a day to day basis and there is 24 hour, seven days a week support available to all 3D carers.
The children and young people placed with 3D foster carers have significant emotional and developmental difficulties which are associated with their previous earlier experiences. These difficulties can include oppositional behaviour, drug and alcohol use, running away from placements and not attending school. There is growing evidence of the success of 3D fostering and the scheme is part of a national and international research programme.
To be a 3D foster carer you will need a commitment to working in partnership and implementing agreed care and intervention plans with other professionals. 3D fostering will utilise your parenting skills but it is significantly different from parenting your own children. Being a 3D foster care is a great opportunity to work with others in improving the lives of vulnerable children and young people. You will need to demonstrate a genuine interest in caring for young people who may feel they have no chances left for them.
There are two distinct 3D schemes in operation. The ‘C' programme offers the possibility of fostering children up to ten years of age, whereas the ‘A' programme places children over ten years of age. There are some slight differences between the schemes which reflect the age difference of the children involved.
This page was last updated on 28 February 2012
