Can foster carers decline a proposed placement?

Foster carers can decline a proposed placement when, after considering the referral, they believe the arrangement would not be suitable or safe for the child or their household. A proposed placement is not an instruction to accept a child: the matching decision should take account of the child’s needs, the carer’s approval and experience, the household’s circumstances, and the support available.

Declining is different from refusing to care for a child after a placement has started. Before a child moves in, foster carers should have an opportunity to consider the information provided and discuss whether they can meet the child’s needs. Once a placement has been agreed, carers should not ask the child to leave or make independent arrangements. If serious concerns arise after the placement begins, they must contact their supervising social worker and the placing authority so that the situation can be managed properly.

Factors that may reasonably affect a decision include:

• the child’s age, personality, communication needs and known behaviour;
• medical, developmental or emotional needs that require skills or experience the carer does not currently have;
• risks to other children or vulnerable people in the household;
• the number of children already living in the home and whether the available bedroom and household space are appropriate;
• school, transport and contact arrangements, including the practical effect on family life;
• the child’s relationships, identity, culture, religion and routines, where these need particular understanding or support; and
• whether the proposed arrangements fit the carer’s approval terms, experience, training and ability to provide consistent care.

The referral information may not answer every question. Foster carers can ask for clarification about the child’s history, current circumstances, known risks, education, health, contact with family members, previous placements and the plan for support. They should also ask who will be involved in meetings, transport, appointments and day-to-day decision-making. The information supplied must be handled confidentially and only shared with people who need it to safeguard and support the child.

A decision should be discussed with the fostering team. The supervising social worker can help the carer identify what is known, what remains uncertain and whether additional support, training or practical arrangements could address a concern. The team may also decide that a different match is more appropriate. Raising a concern is part of responsible fostering; it allows professionals to consider whether the placement is genuinely in the child’s best interests rather than relying on an arrangement that may break down.

Carers should be open about the reason for declining. A clear explanation might relate to a child’s level of need, an existing family commitment, the needs of another child in the home or a mismatch with the carer’s approval. The concern should be based on the proposed care arrangements and the information available, not on assumptions about a child or their background. Where information is incomplete, asking for further details before reaching a decision is usually more helpful than making an immediate judgement.

Declining one placement does not normally mean that a carer is unsuitable to foster. Foster carers are not expected to accept every referral, and a careful decision can protect the child, the existing household and the stability of the placement. However, repeated decisions to decline may lead to a review of the carer’s approval, matching preferences, training needs or understanding of the types of placements they can offer. This is an opportunity to make sure the approval and matching discussions accurately reflect the household’s current circumstances.

It is sensible to agree personal boundaries with the fostering team before a referral is made. This can include the age range and number of children, types of needs the household can manage, whether sibling groups could be considered, and any circumstances that would make a placement impractical. These preferences are not an automatic guarantee that every referral will fit, but they give the team a clearer basis for considering suitable matches.

If a carer feels pressured to accept a placement, they should explain their concerns and request a proper discussion before agreeing. The child’s social worker, the fostering service and the carer all have a role in deciding whether the proposed arrangement can meet the child’s needs. A sound decision considers the available evidence, the carer’s capacity and the support plan, rather than treating acceptance as an obligation.