How Fostering Agencies in Wales Match Foster Carers to Children 

When a child can no longer live with their birth family and requires foster care, one of the most important decisions to make is which fostering family will look after them and be able to best meet their needs. This process, known as matching, is vital to ensuring that a child feels safe and supported. At Family Fostering Partners, our matching process may look a little different to Local Authorities or other fostering agencies in Wales; we take great care in our matching process to provide the best possible outcomes for both children and our foster parents. 

What is the Fostering Matching Process in Wales? 

As a leading fostering agency in Wales, we follow a structured approach to matching children with foster parents, ensuring that placements are stable and beneficial for all involved. The process starts when a local authority contacts a foster care agency, providing details about a child’s age, background, needs, and personality. Our team then carefully reviews our approved foster carers to identify if we have any foster parents that would be able to support that child or children. 

This matching process is not simply about availability—it’s about compatibility. We consider a child’s experiences, preferences, and specific needs to make an informed decision that promotes their well-being and growth. 

There is never any pressure on our foster parents to accept a match that they do not feel is a good fit. If we feel that a child could be well matched with one of our foster parents, we will thoroughly discuss this with them to gain their view, sharing all of the information we have available. If they have questions, would like more information, or would like to be considered as a match, we contact the placements team. 

Fostering agencies in Wales are then required to submit documentation to the local authority, detailing why they think their foster parents would be a good match, which the local authority then approves, or respectfully declines the offer. 

How the Assessment Helps Fostering Agencies in Wales with the Matching Process 

Before being approved as a foster parent, individuals considering fostering undergo a thorough assessment to determine their suitability for fostering. This includes background checks, obtaining references, and home visits. The assessment helps fostering agencies in Wales understand a carer’s strengths, lifestyle, skills, and experiences, which are all key factors in matching a child with the right family. 

At Family Fostering Partners, we work closely with prospective foster parents to identify their preferences, skills, and the type of support they might need. By gathering this information early in the process, we can ensure that when the time comes, we make the best possible match for both the child and the foster family. 

Factors Fostering Agencies in Wales Consider When Matching Foster Carers to Children 

There are several key factors that fostering agencies in Wales take into account when matching children with foster parents: 

• The child’s needs and background – Fostering agencies in Wales carefully review a child’s experiences, behaviours, background, and any specific care requirements. 
• The foster carer’s experience and training – Carers with relevant experience or specific training may be better suited to certain placements. 
• Family dynamics – The presence of other children in the household, pets, and overall family lifestyle are considered to ensure a good fit. 
• Location – Keeping a child close to their school, friends and community where possible, can help maintain stability. 
• Language and culture – Where possible, agencies aim to place children with foster parents who share their language and cultural background to provide familiarity and comfort. 
• Personal interests and compatibility – Matching children with fostering families who share common interests can help build strong, trusting relationships.  
• Approval – With discussion throughout the assessment process, foster parents may have a preference for fostering older children or younger children, or only hoping to support a specific type of placement like long term foster care or parent and child fostering. 

The Ongoing Support Available to Foster Carers 

At Family Fostering Partners, we understand that even the best-matched placements require ongoing support. That’s why we provide comprehensive support for our foster parents, including 24/7 on call service, regular meetings with your designated Supervising Social Worker, a bespoke training plan, peer support groups and external membership to Foster Talk who provide free legal, medical, and financial advice, as well as discounts and savings.  

If you’re considering fostering and want to learn more about how fostering agencies in Wales match foster carers to children, or to discuss what placement might best for your family dynamic, then we’d love to hear from you. Use the ‘Talk to Us’ feature in the bottom right hand corner to speak to a member of the team, or click contact us.