Referrals and matching

Our placement team expertly match children and young people with suitable foster carers.

Each year we receive thousands of referrals from local authorities looking for foster homes across Scotland for vulnerable children and young people. Our aim is for the children and young people in our care to have a positive fostering experience in a stable, caring and secure family environment.

How we match children and foster carers

Our Referrals Teams spend time getting to know our foster families, the more we can highlight their skills and experience to the local authority, the more likely we can ensure the right match and the better the outcomes for the child and foster family.

Matching is a critical part of the fostering process as it defines the success of the placement. And that’s why we take it so seriously. By getting it right, children, young people and foster carers have a positive and more rewarding experience. The key to a good match is building a strong relationship with our foster carers, in order to get to know them and their family.

How matching works at FCA Scotland

Whenever a placing local authority wants to find a foster home for a child, they’ll let FCA Scotland know. We then let to work finding a suitable match.

Our expert placement officers take a lead in this process. They create a ‘Matching Form’ which includes key details about the child, including their location, age, gender, past experiences, language, culture and educational achievements, as well as their sexuality of course there aare other factors to consider. From this, they create a detailed profile of an ideal foster home, and then work alongside our social workers to identify potential foster carers.

Matching foster carers and children

Next, we let the foster carer/s know they’re in the mix, and share information about the child with them. This is all very open and transparent, so the potential foster carer has a true insight into the child and their background. If they decide the placement isn’t for them, that’s fine. There’s no pressure or judgement. It has to be the right decision for everyone involved.

If they’re happy to continue, we’ll all work together to put everything into place. Wherever we can, this includes an informal meeting between the child and the foster carers before the placement begins. Even if this isn’t possible, we encourage foster carers to put together a welcome booklet or video to help the child prepare.

Success of matching

Because of the care and attention we pay to matching, we have a great track record of successful placements, with over 95% of all the children we place remaining with their foster parents for six months or more.

Other steps on your journey to fostering

Application process

It’s important to us that you’re always kept well informed and the process is as stress-free and smooth as possible.

Pre-approval training

We want to help you become the best foster carer you can be, which is why we offer quality pre-approval training.

Panel

Before you join our FCA Scotland family, you’ll need to be approved by our fostering panel first.

Your first foster child

Here at FCA Scotland we know that once you’re an approved foster carer you’ll want to start fostering as soon as possible!

Checks and references

During your fostering application process, we carry out a number of crucial and essential checks and references.

Speak to our team

Whether you’re ready to start your journey or just want to chat to an expert, we’re here to talk.

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