What if my circumstances change after becoming a kinship foster carer?

A change in your circumstances does not automatically mean that you must stop being a kinship foster carer. It should be reported to your fostering service so the impact can be assessed, any risks addressed and the child’s care arrangements kept safe and stable. The outcome may be additional support, an update to your safer caring arrangements, a review of your approval terms or, in some situations, a change to the placement plan.

Tell your supervising social worker promptly. Do not wait until a scheduled review if the change could affect the child’s safety, your ability to provide care or the people living in, or regularly visiting, your household. Your fostering service will usually ask what has changed, when it happened, how long it is expected to last and what practical effect it may have on day-to-day care.

Examples of changes that may need to be discussed include:

• a change in your health, mobility or emotional wellbeing;
• a new partner, adult or child joining the household, or someone leaving it;
• a change in who provides regular care or supervision;
• changes to your home, including a house move, alterations to sleeping arrangements or a new household safety issue;
• a change in work, education, finances or caring responsibilities that affects your availability;
• a significant change in your relationship with another household member;
• changes in the child’s behaviour, health, education, family contact or support needs; or
• an incident, allegation, conviction, police involvement or safeguarding concern involving anyone connected with the household.

Not every change will require a formal alteration to your approval. The fostering service should consider the individual circumstances, the child’s needs and the terms on which you were approved. It may seek information from relevant professionals, arrange a home visit, update risk assessments or review the safer caring and household plans.

Your approval may be reviewed. Approval is based on the circumstances and capacity considered during assessment, so a material change can lead to a review of whether the existing approval terms remain appropriate. This could include the number or age range of children you are approved to care for, the type of placements considered suitable, or whether particular activities and arrangements need additional safeguards. A review does not mean that a problem has been assumed; it is a way of checking that the approval remains suitable and properly reflects the current situation.

Where the change affects a particular child, the fostering service should consider the placement separately from your general approval. The child’s social worker, your supervising social worker and other relevant professionals may need to update the placement plan, contact arrangements, delegated authority, education arrangements or health support. The child’s views should be taken into account in an age-appropriate way, alongside information from those responsible for their welfare.

Some changes need urgent notification. You should contact the fostering service without delay if there is an immediate safeguarding concern, a serious illness or accident, a child missing from care, police involvement, a significant allegation or any situation in which you cannot safely provide care. If there is an immediate danger, contact the emergency services first, then follow your fostering service’s reporting procedure. Keep a written record of what happened, who was informed and any instructions you were given.

If the change is temporary, the service may agree practical measures such as extra visits, respite or another approved carer providing support, subject to the child’s plan and the service’s arrangements. If it is permanent, the service may need to consider whether your approval should be varied, whether the placement can continue safely, or whether another plan is required. Decisions should be explained to you, including what information was considered and what steps you can take if you disagree.

Do not make major arrangements without consulting the fostering service. For example, do not ask an unapproved adult to take on regular foster care responsibilities, change a child’s sleeping arrangements or agree a substantially different contact arrangement without checking what is permitted. Household members and regular carers may need to provide information, complete checks or receive guidance before their role changes.

Keep your fostering service informed even when you are unsure whether a change is relevant. Early discussion gives your supervising social worker an opportunity to distinguish between a minor adjustment and a change requiring formal action. It also helps ensure that records, risk assessments, training needs, financial arrangements and support plans remain accurate.

Kinship fostering can involve changing family relationships as well as changing practical circumstances. If disagreements arise with relatives, birth parents or other people involved in the child’s life, raise them with your social worker rather than allowing conflict to affect the child’s care or contact arrangements. The fostering service can clarify roles, involve the child’s social worker and help keep decisions focused on the child’s welfare.

The most important steps are to report the change honestly, follow the agreed safeguarding and recording procedures, attend any review or meeting arranged, and ask for advice before making a decision that could affect the child. Your approval and support should be kept under review so that the arrangements remain safe, lawful and workable for both you and the child.