Who can live in a foster family home?

A foster family home can include the approved foster carer or carers, their children, adult relatives, lodgers and other people who have a regular or significant connection with the household. The fostering assessment looks at each person’s relationship with the household, their behaviour and circumstances, and how their presence could affect a child placed there.

Birth, adopted and step-children do not prevent someone from fostering. Children already living at home are included in discussions about fostering, in a way that is appropriate to their age and understanding. Their views, feelings and routines matter because fostering can affect privacy, shared spaces, family time and household expectations. The assessment considers whether the proposed arrangement is suitable for everyone, including the child coming to live in the home.

Adult children and other relatives may also live in the household. Their circumstances, attitudes towards fostering and ability to respect a child’s privacy are considered. Adults living in the home will normally need to complete relevant safeguarding checks and provide information for the assessment. This helps the fostering service understand who has access to the home and who may have a role in the child’s day-to-day environment.

Partners and couples are assessed as part of the same household when they intend to foster together. Both people need to understand the responsibilities involved and agree to the household’s safer caring arrangements. A person does not have to be related to the foster carer to be considered part of the household. For example, a lodger, close friend or relative who stays regularly may need to be discussed with the fostering service.

People who visit occasionally are different from people who have a regular or substantial presence in the home. However, frequent visitors, overnight guests and anyone who helps care for a child should be disclosed. The fostering service will advise whether checks, boundaries or additional safeguards are needed. Foster carers must be able to manage visitors appropriately and protect confidential information about the child.

Pets can usually be considered , but they are not automatically suitable for every placement. The assessment may consider the animal’s type, size, age, temperament, training, health and behaviour around children. It may also consider whether the child has allergies, fears or previous experiences that make contact with animals unsuitable. Safety arrangements may include supervision, keeping an animal away from particular areas and following agreed household rules.

Other circumstances that may be discussed during the assessment include:

• children or adults who stay in the home regularly, even if they have another main address;
• family members who need support or have care needs that could affect household routines;
• work, study or other commitments that influence who is present in the home;
• existing responsibilities for children, pets or vulnerable adults;
• household relationships, conflict, changes or pressures that could affect stability;
• previous fostering, adoption, childcare or safeguarding experience; and
• any planned change, such as someone moving in or a child leaving home.

The key issue is not whether a household matches one particular family pattern. It is whether everyone connected with the home can contribute to a safe, stable and respectful environment, and whether the household has enough capacity to meet a foster child’s needs alongside its existing responsibilities.

Household members do not all need to become foster carers, but they do need to understand how fostering may affect them. During preparation and assessment, the fostering service can explain safer caring, confidentiality, boundaries, personal space and what to do if concerns arise. If the household changes after approval, such as through a new partner, a move or a new pet, the foster carer should inform the fostering service so that the impact can be reviewed before or when appropriate.

A child’s suitability for a particular household is considered separately at the matching stage. The fostering service looks at the child’s age, needs, history, relationships, behaviour and any risks alongside the household’s members, routines, facilities and experience. This means that a household may be suitable for one placement but not another, without either the household or the child being unsuitable in general.