How are emergency foster placements matched to carers?

Emergency foster placements are matched through a risk-informed assessment of the child’s needs and the carer’s approved capacity. The fostering service and the child’s placing authority consider whether the home can provide a safe and suitable arrangement with the information available at the time, rather than matching solely on location or who is free.

The matching process usually involves the following steps:

• Sharing the referral information. The placing authority gives the fostering service information about the child, such as their age, immediate circumstances, health needs, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, identity, education, family contact arrangements and any known safeguarding concerns. In an emergency, some details may be limited or still subject to clarification.
• Checking the carer’s approval. The service reviews the carer’s approval terms, including the number and age range of children they can foster, the type of placements they are prepared for and any conditions or restrictions relevant to the proposed arrangement. Their training and previous fostering or childcare experience may also be considered.
• Assessing the household. The team considers the effect of the placement on everyone in the household, including other children already living there, other foster children, pets and any regular visitors. Available bedroom space, household routines, transport and the carer’s ability to manage the child’s immediate needs are also relevant.
• Considering compatibility and risk. The team looks at whether the child’s needs and known risks can be managed safely in the proposed home. This can include possible triggers, behaviours, relationships with other household members, medical or mobility requirements, cultural or religious needs, language, and arrangements for contact with parents or relatives.
• Discussing the proposal. The supervising social worker or another member of the fostering team explains the information available, the expectations of the placement and any known concerns. The carer should have an opportunity to ask questions and raise anything that could affect safety or suitability.
• Confirming the arrangement. The placing authority makes the placement decision in consultation with the fostering service and carer. Once agreed, the relevant information is recorded in the placement plan and shared with the people who need it to support the child safely.

Approval status is important. A carer should only be considered for a placement that fits their approval and the arrangements agreed with their fostering service. An emergency placement does not remove the need to consider safeguarding, sleeping arrangements, supervision, delegated authority, health needs or the impact on existing children in the home. If a proposed placement falls outside the usual approval terms, the service must consider the appropriate regulatory and safeguarding steps before it goes ahead.

Distance can form part of the decision, but it is not the only factor. The child may need to remain near school, family members, health services or their existing community. However, a closer home is not suitable if it cannot meet the child’s needs. The quality of the match, the safety of the household and the carer’s ability to provide the required care take priority.

Because emergency placements are arranged with limited preparation time, the information available may develop after the child arrives. The fostering team should keep the carer informed about significant new information, review whether the arrangement remains suitable and update the care and safety plan where necessary. Carers should report concerns promptly so that the child’s needs and the household’s safety can be reassessed.

A proposed match is not automatically suitable simply because a carer has a spare bedroom. Carers are entitled to ask for clear information about the child and to consider whether they can manage the placement safely and appropriately before agreeing to it. The final decision should be based on the child’s welfare, the carer’s approved skills and capacity, and the circumstances of the whole household.