Who makes day-to-day decisions during a foster to adopt placement?

The authority to make decisions in a foster to adopt placement is defined by the child’s placement plan and the legal framework applying to the child. Although carers may be preparing to adopt, they do not become the child’s legal parents simply because they are approved adopters or are caring for the child. Their decision-making role remains that of foster carers until the legal position changes.

The placement plan should explain what carers can decide without asking for separate permission, what must be discussed with the child’s social worker and which matters require formal consent from the local authority or another person with parental responsibility. Carers should read this document carefully at the start of the placement and ask for clarification if an arrangement is unclear. Any agreed changes should be recorded rather than relying on an informal conversation.

Everyday decisions commonly include:

• choosing suitable meals, clothes and personal-care routines;
• organising naps, bedtimes and other household routines;
• taking the child to ordinary activities, playgroups and community events;
• agreeing age-appropriate television, games and use of digital devices;
• managing ordinary behaviour, boundaries and household rules;
• arranging routine outings and transport in line with the placement plan; and
• consenting to ordinary, low-risk healthcare where that authority has been delegated.

These decisions should be made in a way that reflects the child’s age, development, health, culture, religion, identity and known preferences. Foster to adopt carers should avoid making significant changes simply because they expect to adopt. For example, decisions about a child’s name, important aspects of their identity or their links with relatives may need professional agreement even if the carers regard the child as part of their future family.

Some matters are normally outside a carer’s independent authority. These can include:

• changing the child’s legal name or nationality;
• agreeing to a move to another area or a major change in the child’s living arrangements;
• consenting to significant medical treatment, surgery or procedures where specific authority is needed;
• making decisions about education that go beyond ordinary school arrangements;
• changing agreed family contact arrangements;
• allowing photographs, recordings or information about the child to be shared publicly; and
• making commitments or applications on the child’s behalf that could affect their legal status or future care.

The exact boundary depends on the child’s circumstances, the court’s directions, the local authority’s responsibilities and the wording of the placement plan. A child may also have particular health, developmental or safeguarding needs that mean an apparently ordinary decision must be referred to a professional first.

The child’s social worker remains the main professional responsible for decisions about the child’s care plan. They should tell carers about relevant information, consult them about the child’s progress and explain when a decision needs to be escalated. The supervising social worker supports the carers in understanding their role, applying the placement plan and raising concerns. Other professionals, such as health visitors, therapists, education staff or adoption workers, may advise within their own areas, but their advice does not automatically give carers authority to make a decision.

Foster to adopt placements can involve several professionals because fostering and adoption processes run alongside one another. The adoption agency may advise on the child’s prospective permanence plan, but prospective adopters should still follow the instructions of the child’s social worker and the local authority while the child is looked after. The fact that a child may later join the carers permanently does not remove the need to obtain consent for decisions that remain reserved.

If a decision is urgent, carers should act to protect the child’s immediate safety and obtain appropriate medical or emergency assistance. They should then inform the child’s social worker and supervising social worker as soon as practicable, following the reporting arrangements given at the start of the placement. A significant incident, accident, injury or safeguarding concern should be recorded accurately, including what happened, what action was taken and who was contacted.

Carers should keep clear records of decisions that involve professional advice, consent, disagreement or a change to the agreed plan. Useful records include the date, the issue considered, the people consulted, the advice received, the decision made and any follow-up required. Good recording helps professionals understand the child’s care and ensures that important information is available during reviews and later stages of the foster to adopt process.

If carers disagree with a decision, they should first ask the responsible professional to explain the legal or care-planning basis for it. They can raise the matter with their supervising social worker, request that the issue is discussed at a review and use the organisation’s complaints or dispute-resolution procedure where necessary. Until the disagreement is resolved, carers should follow the current placement plan unless doing so would place the child at immediate risk.

The safest approach is to ask before acting whenever a decision could affect the child’s health, safety, identity, relationships, education, legal status or future placement. Clear professional guidance protects the child, gives carers confidence about the limits of their role and helps the placement remain consistent with the child’s agreed plan.