How are foster carers’ views included in social services fostering decisions?

Foster carers’ views are treated as important evidence in social services decision-making, but they are not the sole basis for a decision. Their information is considered alongside the child’s welfare, wishes and feelings, safeguarding information, legal requirements, care plans and professional reports. The final decision remains with the appropriate social services decision-maker or panel, depending on the matter being considered.

How foster carers contribute information

Foster carers see how a child is managing in everyday life, so they can provide information that may not be visible during professional visits. This can include observations about:

• the child’s routines, behaviour, relationships and emotional presentation;
• changes in sleeping, eating, communication or personal care;
• responses to school, health appointments, family contact and boundaries;
• triggers, calming strategies and approaches that appear to help;
• the child’s strengths, interests, worries and developing independence; and
• practical concerns about whether the current arrangements remain suitable.

This information should be shared through agreed recording systems, supervision discussions, reports and meetings. Clear examples are generally more useful than broad descriptions. Recording what happened, when it happened, how the child responded and what action followed helps social workers assess patterns and make proportionate decisions.

Supervision and regular consultation

The supervising social worker is usually the main professional contact for the foster carer. Supervision provides a structured opportunity to discuss the placement, the carer’s observations, any concerns and the support or training needed. It should also give the carer space to express a view about decisions affecting the child, rather than being limited to administrative updates.

The foster carer’s perspective can then be shared with the child’s social worker and other relevant professionals. Where information is sensitive, the social worker should explain how it will be used and whether confidentiality can be maintained. Information may need to be shared without the carer’s agreement where this is necessary to protect a child or another person.

Placement and care-planning decisions

When a placement is being considered, foster carers can explain what they believe the child needs to feel safe and settled, and whether the proposed arrangements fit their household’s experience, skills and circumstances. They can raise practical questions about contact, transport, routines, behaviour support, education, health needs and the impact of the plan on other household members.

During the placement, their views may inform decisions about services, contact arrangements, therapeutic or practical support, education, health planning and longer-term permanence. A foster carer should be given relevant information to contribute meaningfully, while recognising that some details may be restricted to protect the child’s privacy or another person’s confidentiality.

Foster carers may be asked to provide a written report or attend a meeting connected with the child’s review. They may also be invited to contribute to discussions about whether a plan should continue, change or end. Attendance is not automatic for every meeting, because professionals must consider the purpose of the meeting and the information being discussed, but their views should not be ignored simply because they are not present.

Reviews of foster carer approval

Social services also consider foster carers’ views when reviewing their approval and development. The review may examine the types of placements they can offer, their training and learning, how they have worked with professionals, and whether any changes are needed to their approval terms or support plan.

Carers can comment on the evidence being presented, identify relevant circumstances that may not have been included and explain what support would help them continue fostering safely. In some cases, a review is referred to the fostering panel, which makes a recommendation. The agency decision-maker then makes the formal decision. The carer should be told the outcome and the reasons for it.

When a foster carer disagrees with a decision

A foster carer’s disagreement should be recorded and considered, even where professionals reach a different conclusion. The carer can ask which evidence was relied upon, what concerns remain, whether further information can be provided and how the decision can be challenged or reviewed.

Possible routes depend on the decision and the local authority’s procedures. These may include raising the issue with the supervising social worker or social work manager, submitting written comments for a review, using the fostering service’s complaints process or seeking independent advice. If the issue concerns a child’s care, the carer should continue to follow immediate safeguarding instructions while asking for the disagreement to be addressed through the proper process.

What this means in practice

Being consulted does not mean that a foster carer has authority to decide a child’s legal status, placement plan or contact arrangements. Those decisions must follow the relevant law, guidance and delegated responsibilities. It does mean that the carer’s direct knowledge should be considered, accurately recorded and reflected in the reasoning where it is relevant.

Foster carers can support this process by keeping factual records, preparing questions before meetings, distinguishing observations from assumptions, reporting concerns promptly and asking for important views to be included in written records. They should also check what was decided, what action is expected and when the plan will be reviewed. This creates a clearer link between the carer’s contribution and the decision made by social services.