What information should I receive before accepting a placement in Herefordshire?

Before accepting a foster placement, you should be given enough verified information to make an informed decision about whether you can safely meet the proposed arrangement. This will usually include a placement plan or written placement information, an explanation of what is known and what remains uncertain, and an opportunity to discuss the proposal with the supervising social worker and the child’s social worker.

The information should be specific to the proposed placement rather than limited to general details. Read it carefully and ask for clarification if anything is unclear, inconsistent or missing. You should normally be able to consider:

• the child’s legal status and the local authority’s role in making decisions about their care;
• the reason the placement is being proposed and what has led to the child needing foster care;
• the expected duration of the placement, whether it is intended to be short-term or longer-term, and whether reunification, another move or permanence is being considered;
• the arrangements for making important decisions, including what you can agree as part of day-to-day care and what requires approval from the social worker or local authority;
• any court orders, written agreements or restrictions that affect the child’s care, movements, communication or contact with other people;
• how information about the child must be stored, shared and kept confidential; and
• the arrangements for reviews, recording significant events and updating the plan if the placement changes.

Ask for a clear account of the child’s current presentation and the situations that may be difficult. This might include behaviour that affects other children in the household, difficulties with sleep or personal care, leaving the home without permission, damage to property, aggression, self-harm, substance misuse or other safeguarding concerns. The purpose is not to label the child or predict their future behaviour. It is to help you assess whether your household can manage known risks and what safeguards are needed.

Where a risk has been identified, ask what has happened previously, how often it has occurred, what may trigger it, what steps have reduced the risk and what you should do if it happens again. You should also know who must be informed, how incidents should be recorded and whether additional professional involvement is planned. If information is based on an incomplete history, that should be made clear rather than presented as certain.

Practical information is equally important. Before agreeing, check how the first day will work, what belongings will accompany the child, whether transport is required, and who will explain school, health and household arrangements. Establish the names and roles of the professionals involved, the agreed method for contacting them, and the procedure for raising an urgent safeguarding concern. You should not have to rely on assumptions about who is responsible for each task.

You should be told how the proposed placement fits with your fostering approval and the household assessment. If there are other children or vulnerable adults at home, ask how their safety, privacy and routines have been considered. Discuss sleeping arrangements, introductions, household boundaries and any changes that may be needed before the placement begins. A placement should not be accepted simply because a room is available; the proposed arrangement must be compatible with the needs and safety of everyone in the household.

Confidentiality is an important part of receiving this information. You should be given relevant details about the child, but only share them with people who need to know and in line with the instructions provided. Avoid seeking information from neighbours, school contacts or social media. If you think information supplied to you is inaccurate or you need further detail to care safely, raise this through the fostering team rather than trying to investigate independently.

Before saying yes, use the discussion to test whether the placement is realistic. Useful questions include:

• What are the most important things the child needs from their foster carer on the first day and during the first few weeks?
• Which details are confirmed, and which are still being assessed?
• What circumstances would require the placement plan to be reviewed?
• What arrangements are in place if the child’s behaviour or circumstances change?
• How will the child’s views be communicated, and how will their wishes be taken into account?
• How will the placement affect existing children, work, school runs and other household commitments?

It is reasonable to take time to consider the information and discuss it with the people in your household. If you believe the available information is insufficient, the risks cannot be managed safely, or the placement is not compatible with your approval or family circumstances, explain this before accepting. Saying that a placement is not suitable is different from refusing to help; it is part of responsible fostering decision-making. If the placement is accepted, ask to see the final written plan and make sure any agreed actions, restrictions or unanswered questions are recorded and followed up.