How are foster carers involved in decisions about a child’s care in Coventry?

Foster carers are involved in a child’s care decisions within the authority given to them by the local authority and the child’s parents, court orders and care plan. They usually make or support routine decisions that affect everyday life, while more significant matters require agreement from the child’s social worker, birth parents or another person with parental responsibility. The exact arrangements should be explained in writing when the placement begins.

Delegated authority sets out what a foster carer can agree. This may cover ordinary activities such as clothing, meals, hobbies, school activities, personal care and appropriate contact with friends. It can also explain who can consent to medical treatment, photographs, overnight stays, travel, haircuts, religious participation and other matters where the child’s circumstances require additional safeguards. Authority may differ between children, so foster carers should not assume that an arrangement for one placement applies to another.

The placement plan should record these boundaries and identify who must be consulted before a decision is made. If the information is unclear, the foster carer should ask the child’s social worker or supervising social worker to confirm the position and update the written plan where necessary. This is particularly important where a decision could affect the child’s safety, identity, relationships, health or legal circumstances.

Some decisions remain outside a foster carer’s authority. Examples can include changing a child’s school, moving them to a different area, changing their legal name, agreeing major medical treatment, altering contact arrangements set by the court, or making decisions about the child’s long-term placement. These matters may involve the local authority, the child’s parents, the court, health professionals or other agencies. A foster carer can explain the practical implications and give a recommendation, but should wait for the required consent before acting.

Foster carers also contribute by helping professionals understand how a proposed decision may work in practice. For example, they can explain a child’s routines, communication needs, triggers, relationships and responses to previous arrangements. This information can help professionals assess whether a plan is realistic, whether extra safeguards are needed and how the child’s day-to-day care should be adapted.

The child’s wishes and feelings must be part of the process. Foster carers can help the child express their views in a way that suits their age, understanding and communication needs. They should avoid speaking for the child unnecessarily, promising a particular outcome or asking the child to choose between adults. Instead, they can help the child prepare for discussions, pass on relevant views and check that the child understands what has been decided.

When a decision concerns education, health, identity or contact, the foster carer may be asked to help put the agreed arrangements into practice. This could involve taking a child to an appointment, supporting attendance at school, helping maintain an approved family relationship or following advice from a specialist. The foster carer should receive enough information to carry out these responsibilities safely and should raise any practical difficulty rather than changing the arrangement independently.

Important decisions are normally considered through the child’s care planning and review process. The foster carer can prepare by:

• keeping clear, factual records of relevant events and the child’s responses;
• noting what has helped or caused difficulty since the previous plan;
• checking which decisions need consent and who is responsible for providing it;
• asking for the child’s views in an age-appropriate way; and
• identifying any support, resources or changes needed to make the plan workable.

Information should be shared on a need-to-know basis. Foster carers must protect the child’s confidentiality, store records securely and avoid discussing sensitive details with people who are not involved in the child’s care. They should also distinguish between an observation, an opinion and information received from another person when reporting concerns.

If a foster carer disagrees with a proposed decision, they should explain the concern calmly, give specific evidence and ask for the matter to be reviewed. The supervising social worker can help clarify the process, while the child’s social worker remains responsible for progressing the child’s care plan. Where disagreement continues, the foster carer can ask what review, complaints or escalation route applies. If there is an immediate safeguarding concern, it should be reported through the relevant social care procedure without waiting for a routine meeting.

In practice, effective involvement means working within agreed authority, sharing reliable information, representing the child’s views and following decisions made by the people with legal responsibility. Foster carers in Coventry should receive guidance on these responsibilities during assessment, preparation and each placement, with the arrangements revisited when the child’s needs or circumstances change.