Remand Fostering: your questions answered
25 May 2026
Police officers are uniquely equipped to support vulnerable young people at critical turning points. Remand Fostering allows you to use your skills in a new, rewarding way by offering a safe and structured home to a young person
awaiting a court decision.
What is Remand Fostering?
Remand Fostering provides a temporary family environment for young people awaiting court outcomes. Instead of spending this period in a youth offending institution, they live with specialist foster carers who provide boundaries, routine, and emotional support.
These placements are usually short-term - ranging from a few weeks to a few months. Once the court reaches a decision, a young person may return home, move to a longer-term foster family, or, in some cases, enter custody.
Until then, the focus remains on keeping them safe, supported, and connected.
Why does Remand Fostering matter?
Young people involved in the justice system are often extremely vulnerable. Many face challenges such as trauma, exploitation, or instability. Time spent in a youth offending institution can exacerbate these issues and increase the
likelihood of reoffending. Remand Fostering provides a healthier, community-based alternative that prioritises stability and emotional support.
Why are police officers ideal Remand Foster Carers?
Officers bring a highly relevant skillset, including:
- Skilled communication and de-escalation
- Safeguarding awareness
- Calmness under pressure
- Ability to set consistent boundaries with empathy
- A strong sense of fairness and public service.
Young people on remand need adults who provide structure, consistency, and understanding - qualities central to policing.
What does the role involve day to day?
Remand Foster Carers support young people through routine, emotional stability, and safe boundaries. You’ll help them attend court hearings, solicitor meetings, appointments with the Youth Offending Team, and maintain their education, all while offering a therapeutic family environment.
Your influence during this period can help them stabilise, reflect, and prepare for their future with clarity and support.
What support will I receive?
In recognition of this specialist role, you will receive:
- £937 per week, plus a child maintenance allowance and 6 weeks of paid leave
- Specialist training, including PREVENT, PACE and County Lines awareness
- Support from Youth Offending Teams, TESS, and Forward-Thinking Birmingham
- Therapeutic support and a dedicated supervising social worker
- Clear and supported transition planning for every child
- 24/7 support, 365 days a year.
What commitment is needed?
Remand Fostering requires resilience, consistency, and a willingness to engage with young people during unpredictable periods. Carers must:
- Have a spare bedroom
- Have the ability to travel across the city and transport children to appointments, school, and court-related meetings
- Have experience supporting children or young people (e.g. youth work, residential care, education, police, probation, or previous fostering)
- Be available to foster full-time and provide flexible fostering support/ emergency foster care when you don’t have a child placed with you
- Provide a stable, supportive home environment
- Bring patience, empathy, and emotional resilience.
Can I really make a difference?
Absolutely. For a young person facing uncertainty, one calm, consistent, and dependable adult can make a real positive difference. Your policing experience positions you perfectly to guide them at a turning point in their lives.
Want to find out more about remand fostering?
Join us at our next Remand Fostering DropIn Event on Thursday 18 June at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH.
You can drop in at any time between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.
Please book your place via fosterbirmingham.co.uk or call 0121 303 7575 for more information.
