How are foster placements matched to carers?

Foster placements are matched through a professional assessment of whether a child’s needs can be met safely and consistently within a particular foster home. The fostering service reviews information about the child, considers the carer’s approval and capabilities, discusses the proposed arrangement with the carer and records the reasons for deciding that the placement is suitable.

Information considered before a placement

A child’s social worker normally sends the fostering service a referral containing relevant information about the child and the proposed placement. This may include the child’s history, current circumstances, relationships, daily routines, assessed needs, known risks and the type of care required. The information should be sufficient for the service to decide which carers may be appropriate and for the carer to make an informed decision.

The service then compares the referral with the carer’s approval terms and fostering profile. This includes the number and ages of children the carer is approved to care for, the type of placements they can offer, their relevant skills and experience, and any specific training or support they may need. The service also considers the practical arrangements within the household, including how the placement could affect other children or adults living there.

Who is involved in the decision?

The child’s social worker and the fostering service work together to identify a suitable home. The carer’s supervising social worker may help interpret the referral, discuss the proposed arrangement and advise on whether it fits the carer’s approval and current circumstances. The carer should be given an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns before agreeing.

Where appropriate, the child’s views are taken into account. Their wishes and feelings may influence practical decisions, such as the location of the foster home, arrangements for education, contact with family members or the kind of support needed to settle. The child’s age and understanding affect how they are involved, but matching should not be based solely on what a child or adult prefers if that would create an unsafe or unsuitable arrangement.

The matching and referral process

• A referral is made: the placing authority shares information about the child and the required placement with fostering services.
• Potential carers are identified: the service checks which approved carers may be able to meet the child’s needs and whether the placement fits their approval terms.
• Information is discussed: the carer is told what is known about the child, the expected length and purpose of the placement, important relationships, risks, routines and support arrangements.
• Questions are addressed: the carer, social workers and other relevant professionals clarify anything that could affect the placement’s safety or day-to-day care.
• A decision is made: the carer decides whether they can accept the placement, while the fostering and placing services confirm that the proposed arrangement is appropriate.
• Plans are agreed: practical arrangements are set out for introductions, education, health appointments, contact, transport, household boundaries and the sharing of information.

For some placements, there may be time for introductions before the child moves in. This can help the child understand where they will live and give everyone an opportunity to begin building a relationship. When a placement is needed urgently, introductions may be limited or not possible. The service must still consider known risks, obtain the available information and put suitable arrangements in place.

Approval terms and safe matching

A placement should not simply be accepted because a carer has space in their home. It must be consistent with the carer’s approval and with any conditions or restrictions that apply. If the proposed placement falls outside those terms, the fostering service and placing authority must consider what formal steps are required before it can proceed. A carer should not feel pressured to accept a placement that they believe they cannot safely manage.

Matching also involves considering the effect of a new placement on children already living in the home and on any other foster children. The service may need to assess whether there are conflicts between children’s needs, whether the household can manage the combined care arrangements and whether additional support, equipment or training is required.

What happens after the child moves in?

Matching does not end when a child arrives. The placement is monitored through visits, conversations with the child and carer, reviews and contact with the child’s social worker. The original plan may need to be updated as more is learned about the child’s needs. Support can include advice from social workers, practical assistance, training or referrals to other services, depending on the circumstances.

If significant information was missing, risks change or the arrangement is no longer meeting the child’s needs, the professionals involved should review the placement. This may lead to changes in the care plan, extra support or, where necessary, a decision that a different placement is required. Good matching is therefore an ongoing process: it starts with the information available before the move and continues through regular assessment of whether the placement remains safe and suitable.