Do foster carers have a say in which placements they accept?

Foster carers usually have the opportunity to consider a placement before agreeing to it. This is not an unrestricted right to choose any child; decisions must be made within the terms of the carer’s approval and with the child’s welfare as the central consideration.

When a child needs a foster home, the fostering service may share relevant information with approved carers whose households could meet the child’s assessed needs. This can include the child’s age, background, health, behaviour, education, contact arrangements, daily routines and any risks that need to be managed. Carers should be given enough information to make an informed decision, subject to the need to protect confidential details.

Before accepting, a carer can ask practical questions and discuss how the placement would affect the household. Important points may include:

• what level of supervision and day-to-day care the child may need;
• whether the child has siblings or regular family contact;
• how school, transport and appointments would be managed;
• whether there are known behaviours, health needs or safeguarding concerns;
• how the placement could affect children or other people already living in the home; and
• what training, equipment and professional support would be available.

A carer can say that they do not feel able to accept a particular placement. For example, the proposed arrangement may not fit their approval category, experience, household commitments or ability to manage the identified needs safely. Declining one referral does not automatically mean that a carer is unsuitable for fostering. It is better to raise concerns honestly than to accept a placement that cannot be managed safely or sustained.

There may be less opportunity for extended consideration in an emergency placement, particularly where a child needs somewhere to stay urgently. Even then, the information available should be discussed, and the carer should understand what is known, what remains uncertain and what support will be provided. A carer should not agree simply because they feel pressured to help.

Once a placement is being considered, the fostering service will normally involve the carer in a matching discussion. The carer’s supervising social worker or another member of the fostering team can help examine the information, identify unanswered questions and consider whether the proposed arrangement is realistic. The placing authority also has responsibility for deciding where the child should live, so the final decision involves more than the foster carer alone.

After a placement begins, carers continue to contribute their observations. If the child’s needs become clearer or circumstances change, the carer should tell the social work team promptly. A placement is reviewed through ongoing communication and formal reviews, allowing concerns, support needs and practical arrangements to be reconsidered. In serious situations, a carer can ask for an urgent discussion if they believe the arrangement is no longer safe or appropriate.

During the application and assessment process, prospective carers can discuss the types of placements they may be able to offer. Their approval will set boundaries around matters such as the number of children, age range and whether they can care for particular groups of children. These boundaries are intended to support safe, planned decisions rather than to predict every future referral.

When considering fostering, ask the agency how it presents placement information, who will be involved in the decision, what happens if important information is missing and how a refusal is recorded. A clear explanation of these arrangements helps you understand both your involvement and the responsibilities that come with accepting a placement.