The placement process

The Total Placement Service (TPS) will contact you when they are looking for a home for a child who falls under your approval category. TPS will make sure they are a suitable match for your family.

Before you consider taking a child into your home, we recommend finding out as much information as possible. You may want to ask about:​

  • their age
  • how they identify in relation to gender, ethnicity and religion
  • any dietary, cultural or language needs
  • any health needs including medication
  • their school and whether there are any issues at school
  • Family Time arrangements - how often it takes place and where
  • who will bring them to you and what clothes and belongings they have
  • contact details for their social worker
  • their legal status and the reason they are being looked after by us
  • whether there are any known risks from or associated with the child.​

Introductions

Where possible the child should have an opportunity to meet with you and your family before coming to live with you.

If it's not possible for the child to meet your family before they move in, your fostering social worker will share a copy of your family profile with the child instead. Your family profile will give them information about:

  • your home
  • members of your household
  • your pets (if you have any)
  • your family network.

Placement Agreement Meeting

Within 5 days of a child arriving into your care, you will be invited to a Placement Agreement Meeting. The meeting is chaired by your fostering social worker and the child's social worker, the child (where possible) and the child's parents also attend.

During the meeting, everyone is able to discuss:

  • the purpose of the placement
  • who can make decisions (delegated authority)
  • any agreements about health or educational needs
  • the child’s personal history
  • the child’s likes and dislikes
  • the child's routines
  • your family's safe care policy and ground rules
  • family time between the child, their family and relevant individuals
  • when you and the child will get social work visits.

Specialist guidance

We have specific guidance for certain types of fostering arrangements: