How do local foster care services involve carers in placement decisions?

Carers should be actively involved in placement decisions through a structured matching process. This normally means reviewing information about the child, discussing how the proposed placement fits the household, asking questions, and giving an informed view on whether the arrangement can meet the child’s needs safely and consistently.

The process usually begins when the fostering service receives information from the local authority about a child who needs a placement. The information shared may include:

• the child’s age, personality, interests and daily routines;
• their health, education and emotional needs;
• family relationships, contact arrangements and important cultural or religious considerations;
• previous care experiences and any known risks or behaviours;
• the type and length of placement being considered; and
• practical arrangements, such as school travel, appointments and contact with relatives.

Information must be shared appropriately and protect the child’s privacy. You may not receive every detail at the earliest stage, particularly where information is still being checked or disclosure could identify another person. However, you should receive enough relevant information to consider the placement properly and to identify issues that need clarification.

The fostering service should compare the child’s needs with your approval, experience, training and household circumstances. Matching may consider your ability to care for a particular age group, manage specific behaviours, support contact arrangements, work with professionals and respond to health or developmental needs. It should also take account of other children in the household, existing placements, pets, bedrooms, transport and the effect of the proposed arrangement on family life.

Carers are not expected to make this assessment alone. A supervising social worker or another member of the fostering team should explain the proposal and help you consider the practical implications. You can ask for a fuller discussion before agreeing, including questions about:

• why the placement is being requested and what the expected timescale is;
• what is known about the child’s needs, risks and previous experiences;
• how education, health appointments and family contact will be managed;
• what support, equipment, training or financial arrangements may be relevant;
• how introductions or the move into the household will be handled; and
• which professionals will be involved and how information will be shared.

Where information is incomplete, ask what is known, what remains uncertain and how new information will be dealt with. It is also reasonable to discuss scenarios that could affect your decision, such as changes in contact arrangements, challenging behaviour, allegations, overnight stays or a request to extend the placement.

Your views should be recorded as part of the matching discussion. You can explain what you feel able to manage, what would require additional support and what would not be suitable for your household. A carer should not accept a placement simply because they feel pressured to help. Saying that a proposed match is not right should lead to an honest discussion about the reasons, not an assumption that you are unwilling to foster.

The fostering service and the placing local authority have different responsibilities. The local authority responsible for the child makes decisions about the child’s care plan and placement, while the fostering service considers whether the approved carer can offer the required care. Depending on the circumstances, other professionals may contribute information or recommendations. The carer’s views are important, but they do not replace the formal decision-making responsibilities of those organisations.

In some situations, a placement may need to be arranged quickly because a child cannot remain where they are. Even then, the service should provide the most relevant information available, explain any known uncertainties and review the arrangement as further information emerges. A decision made with limited information should not mean that questions are ignored afterwards. The support plan and risk assessment may need to be updated as the child settles and their needs become clearer.

Involvement continues after the child moves in. Early reviews should consider whether the match is working, whether the child’s needs have changed and whether the household has the right support. You should be able to raise concerns about practical arrangements, contact, behaviour, health, education or the effect of the placement on other household members. Significant changes may require a revised plan, further training, additional services or a formal review of the placement.

Before agreeing to a proposed placement, consider whether you understand the child’s known needs, can provide the required care, have discussed the impact on everyone in your household and know who to contact if difficulties arise. If any important point is unclear, ask for it to be explained and recorded before you give your agreement.