How are foster placements matched to carers in Solihull?

Foster placements in Solihull are matched through a planned assessment of the child’s needs and the carer’s approval, experience, household and practical circumstances. The aim is to identify a home that can safely meet the child’s needs and support their relationships, identity, education and development. A suitable match is not based on location alone.

Information considered about the child

The matching process begins with the information available from the child’s local authority. This may include the child’s age, personality, interests, health, education, emotional needs, behaviour, communication style and experiences before entering care. Their family relationships and contact arrangements are also important, particularly where regular contact with parents, brothers or sisters is part of the care plan.

The child’s culture, religion, ethnicity, language and other aspects of their identity should be considered when identifying a foster home. Where a carer cannot provide every aspect of a child’s background directly, the plan should explain how the child’s identity, traditions and important relationships will be respected and supported.

Information considered about the carer

Foster carers are approved for particular types of fostering and may have agreed terms about the age range, number of children or young people and circumstances they can safely care for. Their assessment will also consider:

• relevant skills, experience and training;
• the space and sleeping arrangements available in the home;
• the carer’s work, family and other commitments;
• the needs and views of children already living in the household;
• pets, visitors and other people who regularly use the home;
• the carer’s ability to manage the child’s routines, appointments, education and contact arrangements; and
• any health, behavioural or safeguarding factors that require particular experience or support.

These details help the fostering team decide whether the placement is realistic for the household as well as suitable for the child. A carer may be well suited to one type of placement but not another, so approval does not mean every referral will be appropriate.

How the matching decision is reached

When a child needs a placement, the local authority and fostering service review the available information and compare it with the profiles of approved carers. They consider the level of care required, the carer’s capabilities, the impact on everyone in the household and any foreseeable risks. The proposed placement should be discussed with the carer, including the child’s known needs, daily routines, contact arrangements, education, health information and the support required.

Carers should be given enough information to make an informed decision. They can ask questions, raise concerns and explain whether they believe the placement fits their household and approval. The supervising social worker and other professionals may help clarify the referral, but the child’s safety and welfare remain central to the decision.

Where circumstances allow, there may be an opportunity for introductions or further conversations before the placement begins. This can help the child and carer understand what to expect and identify practical arrangements. Some placements, particularly those made urgently, may allow less preparation. In those cases, information is reviewed and the care plan is developed as the placement progresses.

What happens after a placement is proposed

Before or shortly after the placement starts, professionals agree the arrangements that will guide day-to-day care. These can cover routines, school, health appointments, family contact, transport, delegated decisions, boundaries, cultural or religious needs and how concerns will be reported. The child’s plan should be reviewed as more is learned about their needs.

Matching is not a one-off decision. A child’s needs can change, and a carer’s household circumstances can change too. Regular supervision, reviews and communication with the child’s social worker help identify whether the arrangements remain suitable and whether additional guidance or training is needed. Foster carers should share relevant concerns promptly rather than trying to manage significant changes without professional involvement.

For someone considering fostering in Solihull, the assessment process is the opportunity to discuss the types of placement that may fit their household, experience and availability. Become a Foster Family can explain how approval and matching work, what information is normally considered and how carers are supported when a placement is being considered. Its local staff support families across the region through offices in Droitwich and Stoke, with staff based throughout the area.