Preparing for your first placement

You're about to start an incredible journey: welcoming your first foster child into your home. Now that you’ve been approved to foster, you may be wondering how to get everything ready — practically, emotionally, and as a family. These top tips will help you feel more confident and prepared for this life-changing chapter.

Build Your Support Network

Fostering brings both rewarding and challenging moments, and having a strong support system in place is essential.

Take some time to think about who you can turn to for advice, encouragement, and a listening ear. This could include family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, church members, or other carers. Foster carer support groups can be a great resource too — your supervising social worker can help you connect with local networks if you haven’t already.

Experienced carers have likely faced many of the same situations you may encounter, and their insights can be reassuring and practical.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Asking for support is not a sign of weakness — it’s one of the best ways to ensure you and your foster child thrive.

Caring for a child, especially one who may have experienced trauma or instability, can be emotionally demanding. Taking care of your own mental health is vital. Accept offers of help, take breaks when needed, and don’t neglect your own wellbeing. A calm, well-supported carer is better able to offer the stability a child needs.

Prepare Your Family for the Change

If you have a partner or children, it’s important to prepare them for the arrival of a foster child. Welcoming someone new into your home is a big shift for everyone.

Our placement teams carefully match children with families, but every child’s adjustment period is different. Some may settle quickly, while others might need more time — especially if they’ve been in residential care or experienced multiple moves.

Help your family understand the change by encouraging open conversations. Let your children ask questions, express feelings, and be involved in the preparations. For younger kids, this might mean helping to choose bedding or a toy. Older children might appreciate knowing more about the fostering process and the types of support you’ll provide.

Books about fostering can be great tools for helping your own children understand the experience and their role in it.

Create a Calm, Welcoming Space

It’s natural to want everything to be perfect before your foster child arrives — but it’s okay to start simple. A neutral, comfortable space that can be personalised later is often the best approach.

A few essentials to have ready include:

• A bed with clean, fresh bedding
• Dresser or storage for their belongings
• A shelf or space for toys, books, or keepsakes
• A cosy chair or reading spot with a blanket
• Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, brush/comb, deodorant, sanitary products)
• A night light or bedside lamp
• Age-appropriate books, games, or comfort items

Keep décor simple and neutral to start, and invite your foster child to personalise the space once they settle in. Whether they love football, unicorns, or comic books, adding touches that reflect their interests helps them feel more at home.

Starting Off Right

The first few days and weeks of a placement can be an emotional time — for you and the child. Be patient with yourself and with them. You’re not expected to have all the answers from day one.

By building a support network, preparing your family, and creating a warm, adaptable environment, you’re giving your foster child the best possible start — and giving yourself the foundation for a fulfilling journey ahead.