Fostering siblings
Keeping brothers and sisters together can make a powerful difference to their wellbeing, especially during a time of change.
When children enter foster care, staying with their siblings can help them feel safer, more confident, and more connected to the people who know them best.
Fostering siblings means offering a stable, caring home where children can stay together, maintain their bond, and support one another.
It is a role filled with warmth, patience, and the chance to make a lasting impact on a family’s future.
Why it matters to keep siblings together
Whenever it is safe and appropriate, social workers aim to place siblings together. This is because staying together can:
- Help children feel less alone
- Provide comfort through shared routines and memories
- Allow siblings to support each other emotionally
- Reduce the stress of separation
- Help maintain a sense of identity and belonging
For many children, their sibling relationship is the most stable connection they have. Your home can help protect that bond.
What fostering siblings involves
Every sibling group is different. Some may be close in age, while others may have very different needs and personalities.
As a foster carer, you will:
- Provide a safe, nurturing home for two or more children
- Support each child as an individual
- Help siblings maintain healthy relationships with one another
- Work closely with social workers, schools, and families
- Offer structure, reassurance, and clear communication
- Respect each child’s identity, culture, and background
You do not need to be an expert before you start. What matters is your ability to offer stability, kindness, and space for children to grow.
The benefits for children
When siblings stay together in foster care, they often:
- Feel more secure during a difficult time
- Settle into their fostering arrangement more quickly
- Maintain a sense of family and shared history
- Build confidence through familiar relationships
- Cope better with change and uncertainty
Your support helps them hold onto something familiar while everything else feels new.
The benefits for foster carers
Many carers find fostering siblings deeply rewarding. You may:
- See children thrive because they have each other
- Build strong, meaningful relationships with the whole sibling group
- Experience the joy of supporting family connections
Our team will work with you to make sure you feel prepared and supported every step of the way.
Support for sibling foster carers
We provide comprehensive support to help you care for siblings confidently and safely:
- Specialist training to understand group dynamics and individual needs
- 24/7 support, including an out-of-hours service
- Financial allowances to cover the cost of caring for multiple children
- Peer support networks with other foster carers
You will never be expected to manage challenges alone.
Who can foster siblings
We welcome carers from all backgrounds. You can foster siblings if you are:
- Single, married, or in a partnership
- A homeowner or renter
- From any cultural, religious, or ethnic background
- LGBTQ+
- Disabled or nondisabled
What matters most is that you have the space—emotionally and physically—to care for more than one child,
and the willingness to support their relationship with each other.
Creating space for each child
While siblings share a bond, each child also needs time, attention, and opportunities to express themselves.
As a foster carer, you will help them:
- Develop their own interests and routines
- Build confidence as individuals
- Learn healthy ways to communicate
- Feel valued for who they are
Balancing shared experiences with individual support is a key part of fostering siblings.
Thinking about fostering siblings?
If you have room in your home and heart for more than one child, fostering siblings could be a meaningful way to support families in your community. Our team will guide you through the assessment process, answer your questions, and help you understand what to expect.