Can siblings be placed with the same foster family?

The key consideration is whether a particular arrangement meets the welfare and individual needs of every child in the sibling group. Keeping brothers and sisters together can protect important relationships and provide continuity, but it is not automatically the right decision in every case. The placing authority and fostering professionals must look at the children’s circumstances in detail before recommending a home.

Professionals will normally consider:

• the children’s ages, personalities, developmental stages and day-to-day care needs;
• the strength and nature of their relationships, including whether they rely on one another for reassurance;
• each child’s wishes and feelings, taking account of their age and understanding;
• any history of conflict, harmful behaviour, trauma or safeguarding concerns between the children;
• the impact of moving together or separately on each child’s emotional wellbeing;
• the foster family’s experience, skills, household circumstances and ability to meet the needs of more than one child; and
• whether the home has suitable space, routines and support for the sibling group.

A sibling placement may involve brothers and sisters who share both parents, as well as half-siblings or other children who have been raised as siblings. Their legal relationship is relevant, but professionals will also consider the relationship the children actually have with one another. A child who has had limited contact with a sibling may need a different plan from children who have always lived together.

Foster carers are given information about the children’s needs before a placement is agreed. This may include their health, education, behaviour, family relationships, daily routines and any risks that need to be managed. The carers’ assessment and approval must be considered alongside this information. Caring for a sibling group may require additional organisation, appointments, transport, supervision and emotional support, so the household must be able to manage these demands safely.

Children may be placed together when a foster family can meet their needs as a group while also giving each child individual attention. This does not mean treating the children identically. One child may need help with school, another may need support with sleep or anxiety, and each child should have opportunities to speak privately with trusted adults. Foster carers need to recognise both the children’s shared experiences and their separate identities.

Sometimes siblings cannot live in the same foster home. This may be because living together would create a safeguarding risk, one child’s needs would be overlooked, there is no suitable home with the required capacity, or the children’s relationships are currently unsafe. Separation should not be treated as the end of the sibling relationship. Professionals may arrange regular contact, letters, calls or other communication, depending on what is safe and helpful. Contact arrangements should take account of the children’s views and be reviewed if their circumstances change.

A decision to place siblings together or apart can be revisited. Children’s needs, relationships and behaviour may develop, and a plan that was appropriate at one stage may need to change. Reviews consider how the placement is working, whether each child is progressing, and whether contact remains suitable. Any proposed move should be carefully planned because further disruption can be difficult for children who have already experienced separation and uncertainty.

If you are considering fostering sibling groups, discuss the practical implications during your assessment. Be open about the space available in your home, your experience of caring for children, the support you can draw on and the age range you feel able to manage. Training and ongoing professional support can help foster carers understand sibling dynamics, respond consistently and make sure every child receives appropriate individual care.