Who makes the final decision about a foster placement?

The final authority for agreeing a foster placement normally rests with the child’s placing local authority. In practice, the decision is made through a review of the child’s needs, the proposed foster household, the available information and the views of the people involved. The fostering service must also be satisfied that the placement is suitable and that the foster carer agrees to accept it.

The child’s social worker usually identifies the need for a placement and prepares the referral information. This should explain why the child needs foster care, their day-to-day needs, relevant history, health and education information, contact arrangements, known risks and the type of care required. The social worker will usually discuss possible matches with the local authority’s placement team or commissioning service before a specific household is approached.

A manager or authorised decision-maker within the placing local authority will normally approve the proposed arrangement. The exact internal process varies between local authorities, particularly where a placement is being arranged urgently. The person making the decision must still be satisfied that the placement meets the child’s assessed needs and is consistent with the child’s care plan.

The decision is not made by the local authority in isolation. Several people may contribute information or express a view:

• The child’s social worker provides the assessment and explains the reasons for the proposed placement.
• The local authority placement team considers available foster households and whether the proposed arrangement meets the referral requirements.
• The fostering service checks that the household, approval category, available space and practical circumstances are appropriate for the child.
• The foster carer discusses the referral, asks questions and decides whether they can safely and appropriately care for the child.
• The child should have their wishes and feelings considered in a way that reflects their age and understanding.
• The child’s parents or others with parental responsibility may also be consulted, where appropriate and where doing so is consistent with the child’s welfare and the legal circumstances.

The fostering service’s role is especially important when the carer is approved through an independent fostering agency. The agency does not replace the placing authority’s responsibility for the child. It assesses whether the proposed placement is compatible with the foster carer’s approval, skills, household and support plan, and it must agree that the arrangement can be safely supported. If the agency does not agree, the placement should not proceed through that service.

A foster carer’s approval is also relevant. Foster carers are approved to care for children within particular terms, such as age range, number of children, and whether they can meet specific needs. A proposed placement may require consideration of issues such as:

• the child’s age, identity, background and communication needs;
• health, behavioural or developmental needs;
• known safeguarding concerns or risks to others;
• relationships with siblings or other children in the household;
• school, transport and contact arrangements;
• the effect of the placement on everyone already living in the home; and
• the level of supervision, training and professional support likely to be needed.

Before the placement starts, the foster carer should receive enough information to make an informed decision. This may include the child’s care plan, important risks, routines, medical needs, education, family contact and any immediate practical arrangements. Information may be incomplete in an emergency, but missing details should be identified and followed up as soon as possible.

For an emergency placement, the local authority may have to make a decision quickly, using the information available at that point. Urgency does not remove the need to consider safety or suitability. The child’s social worker, the fostering service and the foster carer should clarify what is known, what remains uncertain and what arrangements are needed to manage identified risks.

The final decision about where a child lives is separate from wider legal decisions about the child. For example, a court may make an order concerning the child’s care or parental responsibility, while the local authority manages the placement in line with its duties and the relevant plan. The legal basis for the placement can affect who must be consulted and what permissions are needed.

Once everyone with the necessary authority has agreed, the arrangements should be recorded in the placement plan. This should set out practical matters such as daily care, delegated authority, healthcare, education, contact, visitors, transport and responses to particular risks. The placement should then be reviewed to check that it continues to meet the child’s needs. If circumstances change significantly, the local authority and fostering service may need to reconsider whether the arrangement remains suitable.

If a foster carer is unsure about a proposed placement, they should ask for clarification before agreeing. Useful questions include what is known about the child’s needs and risks, why the match has been suggested, what contact is planned, what support will be available and whether the placement falls within their approval. A decision should be based on a clear understanding of the information provided rather than pressure to accept.