What information should I receive before accepting a long-term foster placement?

Before accepting a long-term foster placement, you should receive enough reliable, current information to decide whether the arrangement is suitable for your household and whether you can meet the child’s needs safely and consistently. This should include the relevant care and placement plans, the expectations placed on you, the decisions you can make, the support available, and any known uncertainties that may need further assessment.

The child’s care plan and placement plan

You should be given an opportunity to understand the child’s care plan and how the proposed placement contributes to it. The placement plan should explain the practical arrangements for day-to-day care and set out what the adults involved have agreed. Ask to see the information in writing, rather than relying only on a conversation, and check that it reflects the child’s current circumstances.

The plan should make clear what long-term means in this particular case. It may indicate the intended permanence of the placement, the likelihood of the child remaining there until adulthood, or the circumstances in which the plan could change. Long-term fostering is not automatically the same as an adoption plan, so you should understand the legal and practical status of the proposed arrangement.

Decision-making and parental responsibility

One important area to clarify is who is authorised to make different decisions. A foster carer will usually manage many ordinary aspects of family life, but some decisions may need agreement from the local authority, the child’s parent or another person with parental responsibility. This can include matters such as medical treatment, education, travel, photographs, religious observance and significant changes to the child’s appearance or routine.

You should receive clear guidance about delegated authority: what you can agree yourself, what must be referred to the social worker and what to do if an urgent decision is required. Understanding this in advance helps prevent misunderstandings and gives the child consistent care.

Information about the proposed match

The information should help you assess whether the placement is compatible with your household, existing children and any other caring responsibilities. This includes the child’s routines, communication style, interests, triggers, coping strategies and relationships with important people. You should also be told about arrangements that could affect family life, such as appointments, meetings, transport requirements and involvement from education, health or other services.

Ask how the child understands the proposed move, what they have been told, what they would like adults to know and how their views have influenced the plan. A child’s wishes may not determine every decision, but they are an important part of planning a placement that feels respectful and workable.

Safeguarding and risk information

Any known safeguarding concerns, behaviours that may present a risk, missing-from-care history, allegations, criminal exploitation concerns or risks to other household members should be discussed openly. The information should include the circumstances in which a concern may arise, warning signs, agreed responses and who to contact for advice.

You should not be expected to accept a placement without being told about known risks that could affect your ability to care safely. Some information may be limited because of confidentiality or because assessments are incomplete. If that is the case, you should be told what is not yet known, why it cannot be shared, how the uncertainty will be managed and when the information will be reviewed.

Practical arrangements and professional involvement

Before agreeing, establish who will visit, which professionals are involved and how information will be shared between them. You should know how your views will be recorded, how concerns will be escalated and how the placement will be reviewed. Ask what records you are expected to keep, how incidents should be reported and how confidential documents must be stored.

It is also sensible to confirm the arrangements for introductions and settling in. A gradual introduction may be appropriate, depending on the child’s circumstances, but the pace and format should be agreed rather than assumed. Clarify what will happen if the child is distressed, if the proposed plan is not working or if new information emerges after the placement begins.

Questions to ask before deciding

• What information is confirmed, and what is still being assessed?
• What are the main reasons this placement is being proposed for our household?
• What changes might be needed to our routines, home arrangements or relationships?
• Which decisions can we make without prior approval?
• How will the child’s views be shared with us and kept under review?
• What should we do if we are worried about safeguarding, behaviour or the child’s wellbeing?
• What are the arrangements for meetings, reviews, records and professional communication?
• What would happen if the placement became unsuitable or the care plan changed?

You should have time to consider the information, discuss it with everyone in your household and raise concerns before giving your agreement. If important details are unclear, ask for them to be explained in plain language and recorded in the relevant plan. A properly informed decision is not based on whether every future difficulty can be predicted; it is based on having an honest understanding of the child’s circumstances, the responsibilities involved and the process for obtaining further help when needs develop.