What information will I receive before a baby is placed with me?

Before a baby moves in, you should receive a briefing that enables you to understand the placement, assess whether you can meet the baby’s needs and prepare your home. This information is usually provided by the child’s social worker and your fostering team, with the details recorded in the placement documentation and explained during conversations before the move.

The information may include:

• The legal and social care arrangements: the child’s legal status, the local authority’s role, the reason for the placement and any court directions or restrictions that affect day-to-day care.
• Family and contact arrangements: who has parental responsibility, which relatives or other significant people are involved, how contact is expected to take place and who will supervise or transport it.
• Safety information: known risks, safeguarding concerns, people who should not have contact with the baby, and any instructions for keeping the child safe in the home and community.
• Practical preparation: clothing and equipment the baby may need, feeding supplies, sleeping arrangements, transport requirements and any items that will travel with the child.
• Professional involvement: the names and roles of the social worker, health professionals and other practitioners involved, together with the meetings, reviews and appointments that are already planned.
• Recording and communication requirements: what you need to record, how information should be shared, which incidents must be reported and how to contact the relevant members of the fostering team.

You should also be told what is known about the baby’s identity, family connections and previous experiences, subject to the information being available and appropriate to share. Some details may be restricted to protect the child or another person’s privacy. You should not be expected to access or disclose confidential information beyond your role as a foster carer.

Information is not always complete at the point of placement. This can be particularly relevant when a baby needs to move quickly or when assessments are still taking place. Your social worker should explain what is confirmed, what remains uncertain and how new information will be passed to you. Ask for clarification rather than relying on assumptions, and make a note of any questions that need to be followed up.

Before agreeing to the placement, discuss whether the proposed arrangements are realistic for your household. Useful questions include:

• What decisions can I make myself, and which require agreement from the social worker or someone with parental responsibility?
• What contact, reviews and appointments are expected, and how will these fit around other responsibilities?
• What information should I record about the baby’s care and progress?
• What should I do if the baby’s needs change or I become concerned about safety?
• What equipment, introductory arrangements and financial information will be confirmed before the move?

The placement should be discussed with you before you give your agreement wherever circumstances allow. You can explain any concerns about your experience, household, other children, pets, travel arrangements or ability to manage the proposed care. A placement decision should take account of the baby’s needs as well as your household’s capacity to provide safe and consistent care.

Once the placement is agreed, keep the documents and contact details in a secure place and refer to the written agreement when information differs between conversations. Your supervising social worker can help you understand the records and clarify what is expected. You should receive updates as assessments develop, and significant changes should be discussed with you rather than left for you to discover.