Can I decline a foster placement if it is not suitable?

Yes, a foster carer can decline a proposed placement when it does not fit their approval, household circumstances, experience or ability to meet the child’s needs safely. A decision should be made with the fostering service, rather than by accepting a placement that is unlikely to be suitable.

Before deciding, speak openly with the child’s social worker and your supervising social worker. Ask for the information you need to understand the proposed arrangement, including:

• the child’s age, identity, background and current circumstances;
• their health, education, emotional and behavioural needs;
• any known risks, safeguarding concerns or specialist care requirements;
• contact arrangements with parents, brothers, sisters or other important people;
• the expected length of the placement and the level of support available; and
• how the placement could affect everyone already living in your household.

Your approval terms are an important part of the decision. These set out the types of placements your fostering service considers you able to provide, taking account of factors such as age range, numbers of children, whether you can care for siblings and any specific needs you are prepared to support. A proposed placement should be considered against those terms, as well as against the practical circumstances in your home at that time.

It is reasonable to decline if the placement would require skills or experience you do not yet have, if the child’s needs are beyond the support available, or if there is a significant concern about safety, existing relationships, work commitments, space or the effect on children already in the household. A refusal should not be based on assumptions or incomplete information, so use the discussion to identify whether training, additional guidance or a clear support plan would address the concern.

There may be occasions when the information initially provided is limited because a placement is being arranged urgently. You can still ask what is known, what remains uncertain and how risks will be managed. If you are unsure, say so and request time to discuss the proposal properly where circumstances allow. Do not feel obliged to give an immediate agreement simply because a child needs a placement.

Declining one placement does not automatically mean that you are unsuitable to foster. However, the fostering service may discuss the reasons with you, particularly if several proposed placements are declined or if your circumstances have changed. Your approval, training needs or support plan may need reviewing so that future matching decisions remain accurate.

A declined placement should be distinguished from ending a placement that has already begun. If you are caring for a child and believe the arrangement is no longer safe or manageable, do not ask the child to leave or make separate arrangements yourself. Contact your supervising social worker and the relevant children’s services professionals so that the concern can be assessed and any disruption is managed through the proper safeguarding and placement procedures.

When considering a proposal, focus on whether you can provide consistent care for that particular child, not on whether you can meet every possible need. The fostering service should consider the match, explain the available support and take account of your views. Become a Foster Family can provide information, training, financial guidance and ongoing support to help prospective carers understand their responsibilities and make informed decisions about the placements they consider.