Can I change fostering arrangements if my circumstances or a child’s needs change?

Fostering arrangements can be changed when a foster carer’s circumstances or a child’s needs change, but the change must be discussed, assessed and agreed with the fostering service and the child’s social care team. The appropriate response may be a revised care plan, additional support, a different type of placement, a temporary adjustment or, where necessary, a planned move to another placement.

Changes to a foster carer’s circumstances

A change in your household does not automatically mean that fostering must end. However, you should tell your supervising social worker about any development that could affect your ability to care safely and consistently. This might include:

• a change in employment, working pattern or financial circumstances;
• illness, disability, pregnancy or a change in your own care needs;
• a relationship breakdown, new partner or change in household members;
• a move of home or significant change in accommodation;
• the arrival of a birth child, another foster child or an adult who needs support;
• changes in your availability, transport or wider support network; or
• an event that affects the safety, privacy or stability of the household.

The fostering service will consider how the change affects the current placement and your approval. This may involve a review of your household assessment, updated risk assessments, further training, changes to the support plan or a discussion about the age range, number or needs of children you can safely care for. Some changes may be manageable with practical support; others may mean that a particular placement needs to end or that you should take a break from new placements.

Changes to a child’s needs

Children’s needs can develop as professionals learn more about their history, health, behaviour and relationships. A child may need additional help with emotional regulation, education, contact, health appointments, therapy, identity or relationships with brothers and sisters. A placement plan should be reviewed when the existing arrangements no longer reflect those needs.

The review should identify what has changed and what is required to keep the child safe and supported. Possible adjustments include more frequent professional contact, therapeutic or specialist input, a revised daily routine, extra help with transport, changes to contact arrangements, additional training for the foster carer, or a carefully planned change to the type of placement. The child’s views should be considered in an age-appropriate way, alongside information from the foster carer, social workers, school, health professionals and other relevant people.

How a review usually works

• You raise the concern or change with your supervising social worker or the child’s social worker as soon as possible.
• The professionals gather information about the effect on the child, the household and the placement.
• Risks, support needs and available options are assessed rather than assuming that a move is the only solution.
• The care plan, placement plan and risk assessments are updated where necessary.
• The proposed arrangement is discussed with the relevant decision-makers and, where appropriate, with the child and their parents.
• Everyone is told what has been agreed, who is responsible for each action and when the arrangement will be reviewed again.

The exact process depends on the circumstances and the urgency of the concern. A significant change may require a formal review of the placement or the foster carer’s approval. Any decision should focus on the child’s welfare, continuity of care and safety, as well as whether the arrangement remains realistic for the household.

Can a placement type be changed?

Sometimes a change in circumstances means that a different fostering arrangement is more suitable. For example, a placement initially expected to be short term may need to continue for longer, or a child may need a more structured and therapeutic plan than was originally anticipated. A foster carer may also need to move from caring for one age group to another, reduce the number of children placed, or pause new placements while circumstances settle.

These changes are not simply a matter of changing the label attached to a placement. The child’s needs, the carer’s skills, the household’s capacity, legal arrangements, contact plans and available support all need to be considered. A revised arrangement should be recorded clearly so that the foster carer and professionals share the same expectations.

What happens if the placement is becoming difficult?

Contact the fostering service promptly if behaviour, conflict, contact, health needs or household pressures are making the placement difficult to manage. Early discussion can help identify practical changes before the situation becomes unsafe or reaches crisis point. Support may include a review meeting, a revised plan, specialist advice, additional training, respite or a planned transition to another placement, depending on the assessment.

A foster carer should not make a major change to a child’s routine, contact arrangements, education, medication or living arrangements without agreement from the appropriate professionals, unless immediate action is needed to protect someone from harm. If there is an immediate safeguarding concern, follow the safeguarding and emergency procedures provided by the fostering service and inform the relevant professionals without delay.

Does a change mean the foster carer has failed?

No. Fostering requires regular assessment because children’s needs and family circumstances can change. Asking for help, reporting a concern and taking part in a review are responsible parts of fostering. The important issue is whether the proposed arrangement can meet the child’s needs safely and consistently, with the right plan and support in place.

Before agreeing to a change, ask what will be different in practice, what support and training will be provided, how the child’s views have been considered, whether allowances or expenses will be affected, and when the arrangement will be reviewed. If the change involves ending a placement, professionals should plan the transition carefully, share information appropriately and avoid an unnecessary sense of rejection or disruption for the child.