Facing an allegation

All children and young people need a safe, stable, and supportive environment to thrive. Every child should have the opportunity to share their worries and concerns with a trusted adult, and know that they will be listened to, and their concerns taken seriously.

Any child may experience an event which they find concerning or distressing. Sometimes, this may relate to something which they say has happened with a foster carer, or a member of the fostering family or support network. All fostering services should have a process in place to address concerns raised by a child, or an adult reporting on their behalf.

In 2020/2021, 54% of all allegations against foster carers resulted in an outcome of ‘no further action’. 15% were subject to continued monitoring, and 31% were referred to the fostering panel to review their approval. Half of all allegations were resolved in less than 21 days, with 26% taking more than 50 days to conclude (Ofsted, 2024). 

The allegation process plays an important role helping to keep care experienced children safe from potential harm, but understandably this process can be an upsetting time for both the child and the foster carer and their family. Fostering services should provide input and support for foster carers throughout the allegation process and in many cases, the right support can help foster carers feel able to continue to foster.