Lancashire County Council's Pause and Reflect (PAR) Fostering arrangements ensure the fostering service can meet its sufficiency duty to provide the right homes for children, regardless of the complexity of their needs, amidst a national foster carer shortage. The journey to creating PAR began in 2022 with recognition of the need for a responsive and supportive system to offer immediate stability and emotional support to children, regardless of complexity of need, reducing the need for out-of-area and high-cost homes. The development process involved extensive research and consultations with experienced foster carers. A gradual increase in carers offering PAR, combined with feedback from these initial experiences, was instrumental in shaping the final, effective, and practical PAR model. Launched in February 2024, it provides enhanced fostering arrangements for children with complex needs. It offers a stable home for up to 28 days to allow children to reduce dysregulation and express their needs, promoting empowerment in their care journey.
