What happens between foster placements in Coventry?

The period between foster placements is usually an active part of fostering, rather than a time when your role simply stops. You remain an approved carer, subject to the usual reviews and requirements, while your fostering service considers whether future referrals are suitable for you and your household.

You are not normally expected to accept every placement offered. A placement should be considered carefully against your approval, experience, skills, household circumstances and the needs of the child. Factors can include the child’s age, behaviour, health, education, contact arrangements, cultural or religious identity, and whether the placement would be compatible with other children living in your home. Your supervising social worker should discuss the information available so you can make an informed decision.

A period without a placement does not automatically mean that anything is wrong. Matching must be based on suitability, so there may be times when no referral is appropriate. You can use this time to consider any changes in your circumstances, including work commitments, health, family relationships, sleeping arrangements, transport and the support available from relatives or friends. Tell your fostering team about relevant changes so your records and approval information remain accurate.

There may also be practical work to complete before another child arrives. This could include:

• checking that bedrooms, safety equipment and essential supplies are ready;
• refreshing your understanding of household safeguarding arrangements;
• organising documents, contact details and emergency information;
• thinking through how school runs, appointments, contact visits and activities would fit around a proposed placement;
• considering what support you may need from family members, professionals or respite arrangements; and
• discussing any lessons from previous fostering experiences with your supervising social worker.

Your fostering service may use this period to review your development needs. This can involve checking that required learning remains current, identifying further subjects that would help with a particular type of placement, and discussing how you can build on your experience. Training is not only for the time before approval; ongoing learning helps carers respond to changing needs and reflect on their practice.

It is also sensible to ask how financial arrangements work between placements. Allowances are generally linked to the child placed with you and are not the same as a wage for being available. The exact position can depend on the fostering service, your agreement and the circumstances of a placement, so ask for a clear explanation of any payments, expenses and tax considerations before you begin fostering and whenever your circumstances change.

Supervision and review conversations remain important even when no child is living with you. They provide an opportunity to discuss your wellbeing, household relationships, record-keeping, safeguarding responsibilities and any concerns arising from a previous placement. If a placement ended in a difficult or unexpected way, the service may need to complete specific discussions or procedures before a new placement is considered. This is intended to make sure any risks are understood and that the next arrangement is properly planned.

While you are waiting, keep your fostering knowledge active and maintain the standards expected in your approval. Stay in contact with your fostering team, report material changes promptly and ask questions about referrals rather than feeling pressured to agree before you understand the proposed arrangements. The aim is not simply to fill an empty space in your home, but to identify a placement that can be safe, stable and suitable for both the child and your family.