Fostering Siblings Together

Sibling relationships can provide continuity, identity and a shared sense of family. Being together may reduce worry about where a brother or sister is and help children support one another while they settle.

Placement decisions are always based on the welfare and assessed needs of each child. Living together is not appropriate in every situation. Social workers consider the quality of the relationships, each child’s wishes and feelings, safety, age, development and the support available. Where siblings cannot live together, their care plans may include safe and meaningful family time.

You will usually need enough bedroom space for the children, although whether siblings can share depends on their ages, sex, wishes, relationships, risk assessment and the fostering service’s policy. The assessment also considers transport, school arrangements, household routines, your support network and the impact on children already living at home.

Preparation may explore sibling dynamics, trauma, attachment, conflict, individual identity and how children can be supported to relate safely. Your supervising social worker should help you plan for practical pressures and think through what support is needed before a match is agreed.

The placement plan should be clear about delegated authority, education, healthcare, family time, transport, safer caring and how support will work if one child needs more attention at a particular time.

Foster carers receive an allowance when a child is placed with them. The total for a sibling group will depend on factors such as the number and ages of the children, the placement arrangement and the service’s current fee structure. It should be clear which part meets the cost of caring for each child and which part recognises the carer’s role and skills.

Please do not rely on figures from older versions of this website. Visit the current allowance page and speak to the team for an individual illustration.