Can Worcestershire town households foster children from outside their area?

Yes. A household in a Worcestershire town is not normally limited to fostering children from that town or even from Worcestershire. A child may be referred from another local authority when the proposed placement matches the household’s approval, available space, skills and ability to meet that child’s individual needs.

How placement matching works

When a child needs foster care, the placing authority shares information about their circumstances, routines, health, education, relationships and support needs. The fostering agency then considers whether a particular household can provide the right care. This matching process may involve a child from another part of the region or from further away, depending on the referral and the arrangements required.

Your approval will set out the types of placements you are assessed to provide. These may include short-term care, longer-term fostering, emergency placements, respite care or placements for siblings, although not every household will be approved for every type. The assessment considers your experience, household circumstances, home, availability, support network and capacity to care for the children within your approval range.

Distance is considered carefully

Living in a town does not automatically prevent you from accepting a placement from outside the area. However, distance can affect whether a placement is suitable in practice. The agency and placing authority may need to consider:

• whether the child can attend the required school or educational provision;
• how arrangements with parents, relatives or other important people will be maintained;
• whether travel can be managed alongside work, health needs and other family responsibilities;
• access to medical, therapeutic and specialist services;
• whether the child can remain connected to important parts of their identity and community; and
• how support will be provided to you and the child after the placement begins.

A placement should not be accepted simply because a bedroom is available. You should receive enough information to make an informed decision, and you can discuss concerns before agreeing to a referral. Foster carers are expected to consider each proposed placement carefully rather than accept every request.

Who remains responsible for the child?

The local authority responsible for the child remains involved in planning and reviewing their care, even when the child is placed with a household in a different town or county. Your fostering agency will also provide supervision, advice and assistance in line with its support arrangements. The roles of the placing authority, the fostering agency and the foster carer should be explained clearly before the placement starts.

For children placed away from their original home area, planning may be particularly important. Moving away can affect family relationships, education, health appointments and links with familiar people. A proposed placement should therefore take account of the child’s longer-term plan, not only whether the household can meet their immediate care needs.

What this means during your application

During assessment, you can explain the distance you would realistically manage and any limits created by work, transport, caring responsibilities or other commitments. You can also discuss the age groups, behaviours and placement types that may be appropriate for your household. This information helps the agency assess your suitability accurately and avoid proposing arrangements that are impractical for you or unsettling for the child.

Before approval, prospective foster carers complete preparation training and a detailed assessment, followed by the required checks and decision-making process. Training covers subjects such as safeguarding, child development, trauma, behaviour and working with families. Once approved, ongoing training and professional support help carers understand the needs of children who may come from outside their immediate community.

Foster carers receive an allowance for caring for a child, with the amount depending on the relevant arrangements and placement circumstances. You should ask for current details during the application process, as allowances and related financial information can change. The important point is that accepting a placement from outside your town does not remove the need for a clear financial and practical plan.

If you are considering fostering in a Worcestershire town, ask how referrals from other areas are assessed, what information is shared before a placement is agreed, how travel and contact arrangements are planned, and what local support is available to your household. These questions will help you judge whether fostering children from outside your immediate area is realistic for your family.