When a child enters care and needs a foster placement, it’s not just a case of them being sent to the first available foster home. Social workers use a structured process to try to find the best foster home for the child.
Who Makes the Decision
The child’s social worker will often discuss the potential foster carer with the supervising social worker from the fostering service. However, neither the child’s social worker nor the supervising social worker can agree to a placement without the other’s input.
What Social Workers Weigh Up
Factors taken into consideration are: the approved age range of children of the household members, household members and visitors, pets, experience with children with special needs, language and culture of the household members. Research on evidence of what works for children in care can indicate that good matching is one of the most important factors that determine whether a child’s placement is stable.
How the Child’s Needs Are Shared
Before any placement decision is made the foster carer/s will be given a child’s profile which outlines their history, daily routines and any specific issues they may have. This is shared within the requirements of the Welsh statutory guidance for Foster Care Wales placements.
What You Can Say
You have the right to ask questions and to decline a placement should you feel that it is not suitable for your household. For Foster Care Wales, visit https://saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/.
How Long It Takes
Straightforward matches can happen in a matter of days, while children with more complex needs may take longer to find the right home. Emergency placements are generally the quickest and can happen within hours. Keeping your home ‘ready’ and your social worker up to date with any changes to you and your household is therefore crucial.
Good matching occurs when foster carers give honest information about what they can offer a child and a family.
