What information is shared before a specialist therapeutic placement begins?

Before a specialist therapeutic placement begins, information is usually shared in stages so the proposed foster carer can assess whether the placement is suitable, understand the practical arrangements and prepare for the child’s support plan. The information should be clear enough to support an informed decision, while only sharing personal details that are relevant and lawful to disclose.

The first information may come through a referral or placement request. This gives the fostering service and prospective carer an initial picture of why a placement is being considered, what type of home is being sought and whether there are factors that could affect the household. A referral is not always complete. Where information is missing, uncertain or still being assessed, this should be identified rather than presented as fact.

Information shared before a match may also cover:

• the child’s legal status and the decisions that remain with the local authority, court or another person with parental responsibility;
• the proposed length and purpose of the placement, including whether it is intended to provide assessment, stability, rehabilitation or another form of care;
• family contact arrangements, including who may have contact, how it is expected to take place and what supervision or boundaries may apply;
• the child’s daily routines, preferences, communication style and practical arrangements around meals, personal care, transport and activities;
• education arrangements, meetings and any support that will need to be coordinated with school or other professionals;
• health appointments, medication arrangements and consent responsibilities, where these are relevant to the placement;
• the expectations placed on the foster carer and the responsibilities of the wider professional network;
• any known arrangements for money, clothing, equipment, transport or other placement-related practical matters; and
• the proposed arrangements for reviewing the placement and updating the care plan.

A specialist therapeutic placement should also include a discussion about the child’s therapeutic approach. This may explain the principles that carers are expected to use, how adults should respond to distress, which approaches are discouraged and how the child’s progress will be reviewed. The aim is to give carers a consistent framework, rather than asking them to manage complex situations without guidance.

The child’s own views are important wherever it is appropriate and possible to obtain them. This may include preferences about the type of household, worries about moving, important belongings, relationships they want to maintain and what helps them feel safe. A child’s views may not determine every decision, but they should inform the matching process and the way the placement is introduced.

Information is commonly discussed through a combination of written documents, telephone or online conversations, meetings and preparation with the supervising social worker. The prospective carer should have an opportunity to ask direct questions and explain anything in their own circumstances that may affect the proposed match. This includes household routines, other children or adults in the home, pets, work commitments, available space and any concerns about managing the placement alongside existing responsibilities.

Before agreeing to the placement, carers should be told which information is confirmed, which is based on professional assessment and which remains unknown. Some details may change as further assessments take place. A responsible matching discussion therefore considers not only the information currently available, but also how uncertainty will be managed and who the carer should contact when clarification is needed.

Information sharing continues after the initial discussion. Relevant updates may need to be passed on when the placement plan changes, new professional information becomes available or an arrangement such as education or family contact is reviewed. Carers should know how updates will be communicated, how decisions will be recorded and how to raise a concern if information appears inconsistent or incomplete.

Confidentiality applies throughout this process. Information should be shared with the people who need it to plan and provide safe care, rather than circulated more widely. Foster carers must also understand their responsibilities when discussing information within their own household, with schools, healthcare professionals or others involved in the child’s care. A child’s privacy should be protected while still providing enough information for adults to carry out their responsibilities safely.

Before accepting a specialist therapeutic placement, ask for clarification about any point that could affect day-to-day care, household safety, contact, professional involvement or your ability to follow the proposed plan. It is appropriate to take time to consider the information and to say if the match does not appear suitable. An informed decision depends on an open discussion of both the placement’s requirements and the support available to meet them.