What information is used to match a child with a foster carer?

Matching a child with a foster carer involves comparing the child’s assessed placement requirements with the carer’s approval, skills, household arrangements and support network. The aim is to identify a placement that is safe, workable and able to meet the child’s day-to-day needs, while also protecting the wellbeing of everyone already living in the household.

Information is usually brought together from several sources rather than taken from a single form. This may include the child’s social worker, previous carers, health professionals, teachers, family members and the child themselves, where their age and understanding allow them to contribute. The foster carer’s assessment, household checks, references, training record and discussions with their supervising social worker also form part of the information considered.

For the child, the information may include:

• their placement plan and the reasons they need foster care;
• any known risks, triggers or situations that may require particular supervision;
• health needs, medication, appointments and access requirements;
• school arrangements, transport requirements and educational support;
• contact arrangements with parents, brothers, sisters or other important people;
• daily routines, sleep patterns, food requirements and personal care needs;
• communication preferences, including any additional communication support;
• important relationships, interests and activities that may help them settle; and
• the likely duration and type of placement, such as emergency, short-term, long-term, respite or parent-and-child fostering.

The matching process also considers how a proposed placement would fit with the carer’s existing responsibilities. This can include work and childcare arrangements, school runs, transport, sleeping arrangements, appointments, space in the home and the availability of approved support. A carer may have the right skills but still be unable to accept a particular placement if the practical arrangements cannot be managed safely.

A foster carer’s assessment will normally set out the types of placements they are approved to offer and any conditions or recommendations attached to that approval. It may also identify areas where they have relevant knowledge, such as caring for children affected by trauma, supporting disability-related needs, managing complex behaviour or helping children maintain family contact. Training and previous experience can inform the discussion, but they do not automatically make a placement suitable. The child’s specific circumstances must still be considered.

Household information is important because a placement affects more than the foster carer and the child being placed. Social workers may consider the ages and needs of other children in the home, existing caring commitments, family relationships, visitors, and the likely impact of the proposed arrangements. Pets may also be considered where there are allergies, fears, safeguarding concerns or a risk that the child or animal could be harmed. The assessment is about managing the whole household safely, not simply finding an empty bedroom.

Risk information needs to be sufficiently clear for the carer to make an informed decision. This can include known patterns of missing, self-harm, aggression, exploitation, substance misuse, inappropriate sexualised behaviour or damage to property where these are relevant to the child’s circumstances. Information should be shared sensitively and proportionately, with an explanation of the safeguards, supervision and support that would be needed. A child should not be defined only by their risks: their strengths, preferences and potential sources of stability matter too.

Practical arrangements can be decisive. For example, a child who has frequent supervised family time may need a carer who can manage travel and appointments. A child who cannot safely share a bedroom may require a household with suitable space. A placement involving regular specialist health care may require a carer who can attend training and follow professional guidance. These details help determine whether the placement can operate safely in everyday life, rather than only appearing suitable on paper.

The child’s views should be considered in a way that reflects their age, understanding and communication needs. They may have preferences about routines, food, pets, school, activities or the type of household they would feel comfortable joining. Their views are important, although they may need to be balanced with safeguarding information, legal decisions and what can realistically be arranged. Foster carers should also be given enough relevant information to understand what is being proposed before they agree.

Usually, the child’s social worker and the fostering service discuss potential matches, with other professionals involved where appropriate. The foster carer can ask questions, seek advice from their supervising social worker and consider whether they can meet the identified needs. Agreement should be based on the available information, the proposed support and the risks that can reasonably be managed. A placement should not be accepted because a household simply has a vacancy.

Information may be incomplete, particularly when a placement is needed urgently. In that situation, the decision-makers should identify what is known, what remains uncertain and what additional safeguards are required while further assessment takes place. The match should then be reviewed as new information emerges. If the child’s needs or circumstances change, the placement plan and support arrangements may need to change as well.

Before agreeing to a proposed placement, a prospective foster carer can ask:

• What are the child’s main needs and what support is expected from the carer?
• What information is known about risks, health, education and family contact?
• What routines, boundaries and supervision arrangements are likely to be needed?
• How would the placement affect other children and people in the household?
• What training, equipment, financial support and professional involvement would be available?
• What is known about the expected length and purpose of the placement?
• When and how will the match be reviewed?

The information used for matching is confidential and should be shared only with people who need it to plan or support the placement. Foster carers are expected to handle records and conversations carefully, while professionals should explain relevant information in a clear and usable way. Good matching is therefore an ongoing professional judgement: it starts with the available assessments, includes the carer’s informed decision, and continues through regular review of whether the arrangement remains safe and suitable.