Can siblings stay together in short- or long-term foster care?

Sibling placements are arrangements in which two or more brothers and sisters live with the same foster family rather than being placed separately. The planning focuses on whether living together will promote each child’s welfare, while recognising that siblings may have different ages, needs, behaviours and views.

Keeping siblings together can help preserve familiar relationships, routines and shared experiences during a period of change. It may also reduce the number of losses a child experiences when entering care. However, being related does not automatically mean that a joint placement is suitable. A child may have been harmed by a sibling, taken on an inappropriate caring role, or need support that cannot safely be provided alongside the needs of the others.

How the decision is made

Before a placement is agreed, the fostering and social work teams consider the information available about each child and the sibling group as a whole. This can include:

• the children’s ages, personalities, routines and developmental stages;
• the quality of their relationships and how they respond to one another;
• any history of abuse, neglect, conflict or caring responsibilities within the family;
• health needs, disabilities, emotional needs and behaviours that may affect the household;
• each child’s wishes and feelings, taking account of their age and understanding;
• the space, experience, skills and capacity of the proposed foster carers; and
• the likely effect of the arrangement on other children already living in the home.

The assessment should consider both the benefits and the possible risks of placing the children together. Foster carers need enough information to understand the plan and to identify situations in which the children may need separate space, additional supervision or individual support.

Short-term sibling placements

In short-term foster care, siblings may live together while assessments are completed and decisions are made about their next steps. The placement plan should explain their routines, contact arrangements, education, health appointments and any safety measures. Plans can be reviewed as professionals learn more about the children’s needs and observe how the placement works in practice.

Short-term care does not mean that the sibling relationship is treated as temporary or unimportant. Foster carers can support children by keeping familiar routines where appropriate, giving each child individual attention and making sure that one sibling is not expected to manage or parent another.

Long-term sibling placements

For a long-term placement, the matching process considers whether the foster family can provide a stable home for the sibling group over an extended period. This includes looking at the practical demands of caring for the children as they grow and their needs change. Older children may need increasing independence, while younger children may require more direct care. Their relationships may also change over time.

A long-term plan should therefore allow for regular reviews and honest conversations about what is working. Foster carers can help by treating each child as an individual, creating opportunities for one-to-one time and supporting positive relationships without forcing children to spend every moment together.

What happens if siblings cannot live together?

When a joint placement is not safe or suitable, the children may need separate foster homes. This decision should be based on their welfare rather than on convenience. Separation does not necessarily mean that the sibling relationship ends. Where contact is assessed as safe and beneficial, the children’s social workers can make arrangements for visits, calls or other forms of communication. The nature and frequency of contact depend on the children’s needs, legal arrangements and placement plans.

Foster carers may be asked to support contact with siblings living elsewhere. This could involve helping children prepare for contact, sharing appropriate information with the professionals involved and supporting their feelings before and after it. Carers should follow the agreed plan rather than making independent arrangements.

What foster carers need to consider

Caring for siblings can involve several appointments, school arrangements, contact plans and individual care needs. During the assessment, applicants should discuss the practical implications with their fostering team, including:

• whether the home has suitable sleeping arrangements and space for quiet time;
• how transport, school runs and appointments would be managed;
• how to respond if siblings argue or one child becomes distressed;
• how individual records, routines and personal belongings will be kept organised; and
• what support, training and guidance would be available if needs become more complex.

Foster carers do not have to decide on their own whether a sibling group is suitable for their household. The fostering service should explain the information known about the children, the expectations of the placement and the support available. Applicants can ask questions during assessment and should be open about their household’s strengths, boundaries and limitations.

Sibling placements can be considered for both short- and long-term fostering, but each arrangement must be assessed on its own circumstances. The priority is to provide each child with a safe, stable and appropriate home while protecting important family relationships wherever that is in their best interests.