Can siblings live together in group homes for foster youth?

A shared placement is more likely to be considered when siblings have a positive relationship, feel reassured by being together and can live in the same setting without one child’s safety or wellbeing being compromised. A group home may therefore accommodate brothers and sisters together, but it is not an automatic arrangement. Each placement must be planned around the children’s circumstances rather than simply their family connection.

Before a decision is made, the placing authority and the group home’s staff will usually consider:

• the children’s ages, maturity and individual care needs;
• how they relate to one another, including whether they provide comfort or reassurance;
• any history of conflict, bullying, harmful behaviour or abuse between them;
• whether one child has additional needs that could affect the other’s safety or day-to-day life;
• the available bedrooms, staffing arrangements and suitability of the home; and
• each child’s views, feelings and wishes, taking their age and understanding into account.

Sibling groups do not always need to share a bedroom, even when they live in the same home. Separate bedrooms can give each young person privacy and space, while shared communal areas allow them to maintain ordinary family contact. The arrangement should reflect their ages, preferences, routines and assessed needs.

Living together can help siblings retain familiar relationships during a period of major change. They may be able to attend meetings together, share activities and support one another with everyday routines. However, staff must also make sure that one sibling is not expected to act as a carer, protect another from distress or take responsibility for managing family problems. Adults remain responsible for safeguarding and care.

Some siblings may need different types of placement. For example, one child might require specialist support, a more structured setting or care closer to a particular service, while another may be suited to a different home. In these circumstances, separate placements may be necessary even when the children want to stay together. Separation should be explained carefully and should not automatically mean that their relationship ends.

When siblings cannot live in the same group home, their plans should address how contact will be maintained. This may include visits, shared activities, telephone calls or other agreed communication, depending on what is safe and appropriate. Contact arrangements should take account of the children’s wishes, school commitments, travel, family circumstances and any safeguarding restrictions. They should be reviewed if the arrangement is not working or a child’s needs change.

A decision to place siblings together can also be reconsidered after they move in. Staff will observe how the children settle, manage disagreements, respond to routines and experience the shared environment. The placing authority should review the arrangement as part of the children’s care planning, with changes made if living together is causing harm or no longer meets their needs.

Young people should be given clear information about why a shared or separate placement has been chosen and who they can speak to if they are unhappy. Their views should be recorded and considered, although they may not determine the decision on their own. An independent advocate, social worker or another trusted adult can help a child express concerns.

For foster carers considering sibling placements, the same principles apply: caring for siblings requires space, preparation and the ability to support each child as an individual. Training and the assessment process explore household circumstances, safeguarding, behaviour, routines and how carers would manage different needs. Foster carers should ask the supervising social worker or placing authority for the children’s known needs, proposed contact arrangements and the support available before agreeing to a placement.

The key question is not simply whether siblings can share a group home, but whether the specific arrangement gives every child safety, stability, privacy and meaningful family contact. A careful assessment, child-centred planning and regular review help professionals decide whether living together is the right option.