Can a foster family decline a placement?

The ability to decline applies to a proposed placement before it is agreed. It is different from ending an existing placement, which requires careful planning and involvement from the fostering service, the child’s social worker and other relevant professionals.

Before a placement is confirmed, the fostering team should share information that helps the family understand the child’s needs and circumstances. This may include:

• the child’s age, background and reasons for being in care;
• health, education, emotional and behavioural needs;
• contact arrangements with parents, relatives or other important people;
• known risks, including risks to the child, other household members or animals;
• whether the child has brothers or sisters who may need to live with them;
• the practical arrangements involved, such as transport, appointments and school attendance; and
• any specialist care, supervision or training that may be needed.

The foster family should consider this information honestly with their supervising social worker. They may decide that the proposed placement is not suitable because it falls outside their approval, experience or training, or because the child’s needs cannot be met safely alongside the needs of children already in the household. Space, transport, work commitments, family circumstances, pets and the likely effect on everyone at home can also be relevant.

A decision to decline should be explained clearly rather than based on assumptions about a child. The family can ask questions, identify information they need and discuss whether additional support or advice would address a concern. However, they should not feel pressured to accept a placement if they do not believe they can provide appropriate care. Agreeing to a placement without confidence in the match can create difficulties for both the child and the household.

The final decision-making process involves the fostering service and the placing local authority. A foster family’s views are an important part of the matching discussion, but the authority responsible for the child must also consider the child’s welfare, legal circumstances and immediate care needs. A proposed match should only proceed when the relevant professionals are satisfied that the arrangement is suitable and that the necessary support is identified.

When a family declines, the supervising social worker will usually discuss the reasons with them and record the decision appropriately. This helps the team understand what types of placements may be suitable in future and whether the family needs further training, advice or a review of its approval. Declining one proposal does not automatically prevent the family from being considered for another child whose needs are a better match.

There is an important difference between declining a placement and refusing to continue with a placement that has already begun. A foster carer should not make an unplanned decision to end an existing arrangement or ask a child to leave without first contacting the fostering service, unless there is an immediate safeguarding emergency. The supervising social worker and the child’s social worker should work together to assess the situation, consider support or changes to the plan, and decide what action is needed. Any move should be managed in a way that protects the child and reduces avoidable disruption.

If a foster family is unsure whether to accept a proposed placement, useful questions include:

• What are the child’s known needs, risks and strengths?
• What information is still missing, and who can provide it?
• How would the placement affect children and adults already in the household?
• What training, equipment, supervision or practical support would be available?
• How would contact, education, health appointments and transport be managed?
• Does the proposal fit the family’s approval and current circumstances?

Foster carers should give their honest view and seek professional advice before agreeing. The purpose of considering a refusal is not to exclude children with complex needs, but to ensure that any placement is based on a realistic assessment of the child’s needs and the family’s ability to meet them safely and consistently.