How are foster placements matched in Herefordshire?

Foster placement matching is a structured suitability assessment, not simply a decision based on whether a spare bedroom is available. The fostering service compares the child’s assessed needs and current circumstances with your approval, practical abilities, household situation and capacity to provide safe, consistent care. The aim is to identify a placement that can work for the child and for everyone already living in your home.

The information considered about the child

A referral will usually include information about the child’s age, personality, routines, education, health, family relationships and previous care experiences. It should also explain any known risks, behaviours that may require additional support, communication needs, and the type of contact the child has with parents or other relatives. Where relevant, the referral may cover cultural, religious, linguistic and identity needs, as well as whether the child needs to remain close to a particular school, community or support network.

The information available can vary. A child may need a placement at short notice, or their circumstances may still be developing. Your social worker should distinguish between confirmed information, professional assessments and areas that are not yet known. You should be able to ask questions about anything that could affect your household’s ability to provide care safely.

What is considered about you and your household

Matching takes account of the terms of your approval, including the age range, number of children and types of placements you are prepared and assessed to care for. It also considers your experience, training, strengths and areas where you may need further guidance. For example, experience of supporting trauma, disrupted education, disabilities, additional communication needs or challenging behaviour may be relevant to a particular referral.

Your household is considered as a whole. This can include the impact of a placement on your children, partner or other household members; existing fostering arrangements; pets; sleeping arrangements; transport; work and school routines; and the level of supervision a child may need. The question is not whether your home is perfect, but whether the proposed arrangement can be managed safely and consistently with appropriate support.

How the matching discussion usually works

• A referral is shared. The child’s social worker or the fostering service provides the available information and explains why a placement is being considered.
• Your circumstances are reviewed. Your supervising social worker discusses your approval, experience, household relationships, practical arrangements and any relevant risks or limitations.
• You ask questions. You can ask about the child’s daily routine, known triggers, health, education, contact arrangements, previous placements, relationships and expected support. You should also clarify what is known about the first few days and any immediate tasks involved.
• Suitability is considered. The professionals involved assess whether your skills and circumstances fit the child’s needs and whether the placement can be managed safely.
• A decision is made. If the match appears suitable, the placement arrangements are agreed and explained. If important information is missing or the risks cannot be managed, the placement may not proceed.

For a planned placement, there may be time to arrange introductions, share more detailed information and prepare the child, the foster family and other people involved. This can help establish routines and reduce uncertainty. A placement made in an urgent situation may allow less preparation, so it is particularly important to confirm what is known, what remains uncertain and who will provide support.

Matching is not the same as accepting every referral

Being approved to foster does not mean you must accept every child or sibling group referred to you. You should only agree when you understand the proposed needs and believe your household can meet them safely. Saying that a referral is not suitable is different from refusing to foster generally; an honest decision protects both the child and the stability of your household.

Equally, a good match cannot remove every difficulty. Children may have needs that become clearer only after they move in, and circumstances can change during a placement. The matching information should therefore be treated as the starting point for planning care, not a guarantee that the placement will be straightforward. Keep discussing new concerns with your supervising social worker so that support and care arrangements can be reviewed.

Before agreeing, ask for a clear explanation of the child’s known needs, the expected length and type of placement, family contact, education arrangements, health information, daily responsibilities, financial arrangements and available support. You should also understand who to contact if the child’s needs or the household situation changes. Taking time to consider these points helps ensure that your decision is informed and that the proposed placement is appropriate for your family as well as for the child.