Can I decline a temporary infant placement after receiving the details?

You are not required to accept a temporary infant placement simply because the details have been shared with you. Receiving information about a baby is part of the matching and decision-making process; it is not the same as agreeing to provide care. You should make your decision based on whether you can safely meet the infant’s needs and manage the placement within your household’s circumstances.

Consider the information provided

Before deciding, make sure you understand the proposed arrangements. You can ask your fostering team or the child’s social worker to clarify matters such as:

• the infant’s age, health, development and known medical or feeding needs;
• whether the baby needs medication, specialist equipment or additional appointments;
• the expected length and purpose of the temporary placement;
• any arrangements for contact with parents, relatives or other important people;
• where and how often contact is expected to take place;
• the likely impact on your other children, household members, work and daily routines;
• transport, sleeping arrangements and practical care requirements; and
• any known safeguarding, emotional or behavioural information relevant to caring for the infant.

Details may be limited when a placement is arranged quickly, but you should still be given the information available. If something is unclear, ask questions before making a decision rather than agreeing and hoping the concerns will resolve themselves.

Reasons for declining may be appropriate

A refusal does not mean that you are unwilling to foster or unable to care for children generally. A particular placement may not be suitable because the infant’s needs are outside your approval, experience or training, or because your household cannot safely manage the practical arrangements at that time.

For example, you may need to decline if:

• the baby needs a level of medical care for which you have not been trained;
• the placement would conflict with existing fostering responsibilities or important family commitments;
• your home, transport or sleeping arrangements are not suitable;
• the proposed contact arrangements cannot be managed safely or practically;
• you do not have the capacity to meet the infant’s needs alongside your other children or household members; or
• the information raises safeguarding or welfare concerns that need further assessment.

It is better to identify a genuine limitation before the placement begins than to accept care that you cannot sustain. A suitable match protects the infant, your household and the wider fostering arrangements.

How to communicate your decision

Tell your supervising social worker or the relevant member of your fostering team as soon as you have decided. Be clear and specific about the reasons. Saying that the placement is not suitable for your current circumstances is helpful, but explaining the practical or care-related concern allows the team to record it accurately and consider whether further information, training or support would change the position.

You do not need to criticise the child or make a judgement about the child’s family. Focus on the proposed care requirements and your ability to meet them safely. Your fostering team may discuss alternative arrangements, ask whether a different type of placement would be more appropriate in future, or identify support that could help with similar requests later.

What happens after you decline?

The placing authority will consider other suitable options for the infant. Your decision may be recorded as part of the placement discussion, particularly where it relates to your approval, training or household circumstances. A single refusal does not automatically mean that your fostering approval is at risk. However, repeatedly accepting placements that are unsuitable, withholding important concerns or withdrawing after care has started could create safeguarding and planning difficulties.

If you have already said that you can accept the placement but circumstances change before the baby arrives, contact your fostering team immediately. Do not wait until the arrangement is about to begin, and do not withdraw informally without discussing the situation with the professionals involved. They will need to understand what has changed and agree the safest next steps.

Making a confident decision

Use your placement information, approval conditions, training and advice from your fostering team to assess whether the arrangement is realistic. You can take time to consider the details, ask for clarification and discuss the proposal with the people whose lives will be affected. The final decision should be based on the infant’s welfare and your genuine ability to provide consistent, safe care, rather than pressure to appear willing.