There are sadly often occasions when several siblings are taken into care together. Whilst it is usually the aim of local authorities to place a sibling group in the same foster home, it is not always straightforward, and not many fostering families have a large enough home to offer this.

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Sometimes a decision is made to place the children/ young people with different foster carers. This can mean complex arrangements have to be managed.

 

Contact between the siblings is very important, since remaining in touch with each other is often what they value most in family life.

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Foster carers who want to give a home to siblings would need to bear in mind that some want to be together, and this usually results in a successful outcome. However, others can have complex needs, and there may be jealousy and rivalry between the siblings, which can make a family situation hard to manage.