Allegations against foster carers

Foster care can be a truly rewarding career with many benefits; it is also a huge commitment and one that is not without problems. Many of the children who come into care have been abused or neglected, and because of the nature of fostering, this can put foster carers at risk of allegations during their fostering career.

When allegations against foster carers are made, the local authority and the fostering service have a legal duty under the Children Act 1989, S47, to carry out an investigation to ensure that the child is safe and receives appropriate help, regardless of whether the allegation is true or not

Although this is a necessary process, it can put the accused foster carer and their family under considerable emotional strain.

While research has shown that the majority of allegations (78%) are unsubstantiated, (Biehal, (2014) Sebba & Plumridge, (2016) ), the impact of the investigation may leave foster carers feeling extremely vulnerable and distressed. The willingness and ability of the foster carer to continue to foster following an unsubstantiated allegation often depends on the level of input and support they receive from their fostering service throughout this process.

Allegations against Foster carers: Frequently Asked Questions