Can I foster a child from a different local authority?

Council boundaries do not normally prevent a foster carer from being considered for a child who is looked after by another local authority. The important question is whether the proposed placement can meet the child’s needs safely and consistently, taking account of the distance between homes, family and professional relationships, education, health appointments and contact arrangements.

The local authority responsible for the child remains responsible for planning and reviewing their care. It will work with your fostering provider and household before the placement is agreed. This includes sharing relevant information about the child, considering the matching factors and confirming what support and services will be provided.

Being approved to foster does not mean that every child from every area will be suitable for your household. Your fostering assessment identifies the types of placements you may be able to offer, considering factors such as:

• the age range and needs of children you could care for;
• whether you could support siblings, teenagers or children with additional needs;
• the space, safety and sleeping arrangements in your home;
• the impact of a placement on everyone already living in the household;
• your ability to manage travel, appointments, school arrangements and contact; and
• the practical support available from your provider and the placing authority.

Distance can be particularly important. A placement may require regular contact with parents or other relatives, attendance at a child’s existing school, meetings with social workers, health appointments or visits from other professionals. If travelling would disrupt the child’s routine or make the placement difficult to sustain, a nearer foster home may be considered more appropriate. In other cases, a child may be placed further away where there is a clear reason, such as protecting them from a local risk, keeping siblings together or finding carers with the right experience.

Before a placement is made, you should be given enough information to consider whether you can meet the child’s needs. You can ask about:

• the child’s background, routines, relationships and current circumstances;
• schooling, medical care and any specialist services;
• the expected arrangements for family contact and who will organise transport;
• the frequency of visits, meetings and reviews;
• the roles of the child’s social worker, supervising social worker and other professionals;
• any known risks or behaviours that require specific support; and
• the financial arrangements and expenses connected with the placement.

You are not required to accept every referral. A proposed match should be discussed with you and the members of your household, and you should be able to raise practical or safeguarding concerns before agreeing. The final decision should reflect the child’s welfare as well as your household’s capacity to provide stable care.

When a placement is agreed, the arrangements should be recorded clearly. This normally includes information about the child’s care plan, delegated day-to-day authority, education, health, contact, transport, financial arrangements, emergency procedures and the support available to you. Ask for clarification if responsibility is divided between your fostering provider and the placing local authority.

Fostering for a child from another authority can therefore involve more coordination than a placement close to home, but it can work well when the arrangements are realistic and properly supported. During your application, discuss the areas you could reasonably travel to, any limits imposed by work or family commitments, and the types of placements that would fit your household. A fostering provider’s assessment and matching process should take these practical considerations into account rather than treating every referral as suitable.