A comprehensive guide to fostering terminology. Whether you are exploring fostering for the first time or are an experienced carer, this glossary explains the key terms, abbreviations, and phrases you will come across.
The legal process by which a child becomes a permanent, legal member of a new family. Unlike fostering, adoption permanently transfers all parental rights and responsibilities from the birth parents to the adoptive parents. See our guide on fostering vs adoption.
A regular payment made to foster carers to cover the costs of looking after a foster child. This includes food, clothing, transport, activities, and household expenses. See our fostering allowance page for current rates.
The emotional bond between a child and their caregiver. Many children in foster care have experienced disrupted attachments, and building secure attachments is a key part of the fostering role.
The process by which a prospective foster carer is evaluated and approved. This includes home visits, interviews, references, health checks, DBS checks, and the completion of a Form F assessment.
The biological family of a child in foster care. Foster carers often support contact between the child and their birth family as part of the care plan.
A support arrangement where a new foster carer is paired with an experienced carer who can offer practical advice, emotional support, and guidance during the early stages of fostering.
A court order that places a child in the care of the local authority. Under a care order, the local authority shares parental responsibility with the birth parents.
A document that outlines the arrangements for a child in care, including where they will live, their education, health needs, contact with birth family, and long-term goals.
A child who is unlikely to achieve a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services from the local authority.
A relative, friend, or other person connected to a child who is approved as a foster carer specifically for that child. Also known as a kinship carer.
Arranged visits or communication between a foster child and their birth family. Contact can be face-to-face, by phone, letter, or video call, and is usually supervised or supported by a social worker.
The collective responsibility of a local authority to act as the best possible parent for every child in its care. This includes ensuring access to education, health services, and emotional support.
The authority given to foster carers by the local authority or agency to make day-to-day decisions about a child in their care, such as haircuts, sleepovers, school trips, and medical appointments.
Disclosure and Barring Service check. An enhanced criminal record check that all prospective foster carers and members of their household over 18 must undergo as part of the approval process.
When a foster placement ends unexpectedly or earlier than planned. A disruption meeting is usually held to understand what happened and to learn from the experience.
Services and interventions designed to prevent children from entering the care system by supporting families in crisis.
A foster placement arranged at very short notice, often within hours, when a child needs immediate care. Emergency foster carers must be flexible and prepared to take a child at any time.
A payment made to foster carers on top of the fostering allowance. The fee recognises the skills, experience, and professional commitment of the carer. Fee levels vary between agencies.
The formal assessment document completed during the fostering approval process. It covers your background, motivation, parenting capacity, support network, and suitability to foster. See our Form F assessment guide.
A written agreement between the foster carer and the fostering agency that sets out the terms, expectations, and responsibilities of both parties.
An independent panel of professionals and experienced individuals who review fostering assessments and make recommendations about whether applicants should be approved as foster carers.
A privately run fostering agency that recruits, trains, and supports foster carers. IFAs are regulated by Ofsted and often offer higher allowances and more tailored support than local authorities. Find a foster agency near you.
A qualified social worker who chairs Looked After Child reviews and ensures the local authority is fulfilling its responsibilities to the child. The IRO acts independently of the case management team.
When a child is cared for by a relative or close family friend rather than an unrelated foster carer. Kinship carers may be approved as connected persons foster carers.
A child who is in the care of the local authority, either through a voluntary agreement with the parents or under a court order. Also known as a child in care or CiC.
A regular meeting held to review the care plan of a looked after child. Reviews must take place within 28 days of placement, then at 3 months, and every 6 months thereafter.
The process of a young person transitioning out of the care system, usually between the ages of 16 and 21 (or 25 with extended support). Local authorities have a duty to support care leavers with accommodation, education, and financial assistance.
Therapeutic work that helps a child in care understand their personal history, why they came into care, and their journey through the care system. It often involves creating a life story book.
The council responsible for children's services in a given area. Local authorities have a statutory duty to safeguard children and can place children in foster care through their own fostering service or through IFAs.
The process of finding the right foster carer for a particular child, taking into account the child's needs, the carer's skills and experience, the household setup, and the preferences of all involved.
A framework for managing the risk posed by certain offenders. Foster carers may come into contact with MAPPA processes if a child's birth family member is subject to monitoring.
The standards set by the government that all fostering services must meet. They cover areas including the welfare of children, the suitability of foster carers, and the management of fostering agencies. Ofsted inspects against these standards.
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. Ofsted regulates and inspects fostering agencies and local authority fostering services in England, grading them as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate.
Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy. A therapeutic parenting approach developed by Dr Dan Hughes that is widely used in foster care to build trust and connection with children who have experienced trauma.
A plan created for young people in care aged 16 and over, setting out the support they will receive as they prepare to leave care and transition to independent living.
A plan that sets out the educational needs and targets for a child in care. PEPs are reviewed termly and are designed to ensure looked after children receive the educational support they need.
The arrangement of a child living with a foster carer. Placements can be short-term, long-term, emergency, or respite.
A detailed document that sets out the practical arrangements for a foster placement, including routines, contact arrangements, delegated authority, education, and health needs.
When a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is cared for by someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more. Private fostering is not arranged by the local authority, but must be notified to them.
Additional government funding allocated to schools for each looked after child on their roll. The funding is managed by the Virtual School Head and is used to support the child's educational achievement.
A tax exemption for foster carers. The first ten thousand pounds per year of fostering income is tax-free, plus an additional weekly amount per child. Most foster carers pay little or no tax on their fostering income. See our fostering pay guide.
Short-term foster care provided to give a child's regular foster carer a planned break. Respite placements can last from a weekend to a couple of weeks and are an important part of supporting foster families.
The process of a child returning to live with their birth family after a period in foster care. Reunification is always the first option considered if it is safe and in the child's best interests.
The actions taken to protect children from abuse, neglect, and harm. All foster carers receive safeguarding training and have a duty to report any concerns about a child's welfare.
A court order that gives a carer parental responsibility for a child without fully severing the legal relationship with the birth parents. SGOs are often used for kinship carers and provide greater permanence than fostering.
Regular, planned short stays with a foster carer to provide support for children with disabilities and their families. Short breaks can be overnight, weekends, or during school holidays.
A social worker employed by the fostering agency who is responsible for supporting, supervising, and developing the foster carer. They visit regularly, provide guidance, and are your main point of contact with the agency.
An arrangement that allows a young person to remain living with their foster carer after they turn 18, up to the age of 21. Staying Put provides continuity and stability during the transition to adulthood.
A specialist type of fostering for children with complex emotional or behavioural needs. Therapeutic foster carers receive additional training and support to help children who have experienced significant trauma.
A set of standards that all new foster carers in England must complete within 12 months of their first placement. The TSD workbook covers areas including safeguarding, communication, child development, and working with other professionals.
The process of moving from one fostering agency to another. Foster carers may choose to transfer if they feel another agency offers better support, training, or allowances. See our guide on transferring your fostering agency.
A team within the local authority that promotes the educational achievement of looked after children. The Virtual School Head oversees the educational progress of all children in the authority's care.