Can I foster the same child until they turn 18?

A long-term foster placement can continue throughout a child’s childhood and into their eighteenth year, but it is not an unconditional commitment to a fixed end date. The placement is reviewed regularly to check that it remains suitable for the child and the fostering household, with decisions based on the child’s welfare and changing circumstances.

When a child is matched with a foster family for the long term, the aim is usually to provide continuity rather than move them between different placements. This can give the child a stable home while they maintain important relationships, attend the same school where possible and develop a consistent support network. Long-term fostering does not normally give the foster carer parental responsibility, so decisions remain shared with the local authority, the child’s parents or anyone else who holds parental responsibility, depending on the child’s legal arrangements.

The expected length of the placement should be discussed before the child moves in. The child’s care plan, placement plan and information about their history and needs should explain what is being planned, including contact with relatives, education, health care and arrangements for important occasions. Foster carers should have the opportunity to ask questions and consider whether they can meet the child’s needs over the longer term before agreeing to the match.

Even where a placement is intended to last until 18, circumstances can change. A child may return to a parent or another family member, move to a different type of care, require support that the current household cannot provide, or express a wish to live elsewhere as they become older. A local authority may also review the care plan following changes in family circumstances, court decisions or the child’s assessed needs. A long-term match therefore provides an intended basis for stability, not a guarantee that the child will remain in the placement until their eighteenth birthday.

Foster carers are expected to take part in ongoing reviews and planning meetings. These provide a formal opportunity to discuss the child’s progress, relationships, behaviour, health, education and preparation for adulthood. The fostering service should also continue to provide supervision, training and advice so that carers can respond appropriately as the child grows. Approval and the household’s ability to meet the placement’s needs are reviewed separately from the child’s individual care plan.

As the young person approaches adulthood, planning should begin well before they turn 18. This may cover further education, employment, housing, budgeting, health care, relationships and practical life skills. Some young people move into independent or supported accommodation, while others may remain living with their foster carers through a Staying Put arrangement. Staying Put is not the same as continuing to foster: it is a post-18 living arrangement that must be discussed and planned with the local authority, the young person and the foster family, including the support and financial arrangements that will apply.

If you are considering a long-term placement, ask the fostering service:

• What does the child’s care plan say about where they are expected to live as they grow up?
• What information is available about the child’s needs, family relationships and likely support requirements?
• How will contact, education, health appointments and important decisions be managed?
• How will the placement be reviewed if the child’s needs or circumstances change?
• What preparation will be provided for the child’s transition to adulthood?
• Could a Staying Put arrangement be considered, and what would need to be agreed before the child turns 18?

Long-term fostering can allow the same child to remain with one family until 18 where that continues to be the right plan. The most important consideration is whether the arrangement remains safe, stable and suitable for the child at each stage of their development.