Who makes the final decision about accepting a placement?

There are two separate decisions in a foster placement: the placing authority decides whether the child should be placed, while the approved foster carer decides whether their household can accept the proposed arrangement. A placement should proceed only when these decisions align and the fostering service has confirmed that the arrangements are suitable.

The decision-making process normally involves several people, each with a different responsibility:

• The foster carer considers whether they can meet the child’s needs safely and consistently, taking account of their experience, approval terms, household circumstances and any other children already living in the home.
• The fostering service reviews the proposed match, shares the available information, identifies support and practical requirements, and advises whether the placement appears suitable.
• The child’s social worker provides information about the child’s history, needs, risks, routines, relationships and care plan. They are responsible for decisions relating to the child’s welfare and placement.
• The placing local authority authorises the placement and remains responsible for the child’s care plan. It must be satisfied that the proposed placement meets the child’s assessed needs.
• Other members of the household , including a foster carer’s partner or children, may need to be involved in discussions because the placement will affect everyone in the home.

A carer should not be expected to agree based on limited information or pressure. Before deciding, they should ask for a clear explanation of the child’s needs, including medical requirements, behaviour, education, contact with family members, known risks, sleeping arrangements and the likely length of the placement. They should also understand what support will be available and who to contact if difficulties arise.

The carer’s approval category and terms are relevant to the decision. For example, a carer may be approved to care for a particular age range or number of children, or may have conditions linked to their skills, household or accommodation. A proposed placement must fit within those arrangements unless the appropriate approval process is followed. A carer should raise any uncertainty before accepting rather than assume that approval alone means every placement is suitable.

Matching is more than comparing a child’s age with a carer’s approval. The assessment should consider whether the carer can respond to the child’s individual needs and whether the child’s relationships and circumstances are compatible with the household. Factors may include:

• the child’s emotional, developmental, medical and educational needs;
• behaviour that may present risks or require additional supervision;
• the impact of trauma, separation or previous moves;
• contact arrangements with parents, siblings or other relatives;
• the needs and views of children already in the household;
• available bedrooms, transport and day-to-day routines; and
• the carer’s training, experience and capacity to provide the necessary care.

Where a placement is being considered urgently, the information may initially be incomplete. That does not remove the need for a proper discussion. The carer should be told what is known, what still needs to be established and what safeguards will be in place while further information is gathered. If important information is missing or the proposed arrangements do not appear safe, the carer can ask for the decision to be paused until the concerns have been addressed.

Once a placement is agreed, the key information and responsibilities should be recorded in the placement plan. This should set out practical arrangements such as healthcare, education, contact, delegated authority, behaviour support, transport, routines and communication between the adults involved. The plan can be reviewed if the child’s needs or circumstances change.

Accepting one placement does not mean a foster carer must accept another. Each proposal should be considered on its own facts. A carer can decline where they believe the match is unsuitable, the risks cannot be managed, the effect on their household would be unsafe, or they do not have the required skills and capacity. Saying no to a particular proposal is different from refusing to work cooperatively with a fostering service; the important point is that the decision should be reasoned, transparent and focused on safe care.

If a carer feels unable to make an informed decision, they should speak to their supervising social worker or the fostering service before responding. They can ask for clarification, request a further discussion with the child’s social worker, or seek advice about support and risk management. The final agreement should reflect a properly considered assessment of what is in the child’s best interests and what the foster household can realistically provide.