ADVICE FOR CARERS
What is delegated authority in foster care? A guide for foster carers
If you’re a foster carer — or thinking about becoming one — you’ve probably heard the phrase “delegated authority” mentioned in training, planning meetings or by social workers. But what does it actually mean? Why is it important? And how does it affect day-to-day life in a foster home?
Delegated authority (or DA for short) is one of those terms that sounds technical but is actually rooted in something very simple: trusting foster carers to make every day parenting decisions. It helps foster carers provide children with the kind of “normal family life” that every child deserves, while keeping everyone safe, supported, and informed.
In this blog, we’ll explore what delegated authority is, how it works in practice, and why it plays such a vital role in building strong, stable foster placements.
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Delegated authority is the process by which certain decisions — which would normally be made by someone with parental responsibility — are formally handed over to the foster carer. That means, while foster carers don’t have legal parental responsibility for the children in their care, they are given clear permission to make certain decisions on behalf of the child.
This could include decisions like:
- Signing a school trip form
- Booking a doctor’s appointment
- Deciding on haircuts or bedtimes
- Giving consent for a sleepover
The goal is to make sure foster carers aren’t stuck waiting for permission to meet every day needs — and that children aren’t left feeling different or delayed because of red tape.
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Delegated authority is discussed and documented in a Placement Planning Meeting, usually held within the first few days of a child entering a placement. This meeting should include the child’s social worker, the foster carer, supervising social worker, and wherever possible, the child and their birth parents.
Together, the team outlines who can make which decisions — and under what circumstances. These decisions are recorded in the Placement Plan, and should be reviewed regularly, especially if the child’s circumstances change (e.g. a long-term plan is agreed, or there is a change in legal status).
This depends on the child’s legal situation:
- If the child is under a Section 20 arrangement (voluntary accommodation), the birth parents hold full parental responsibility, and any delegated authority must come from them. However, as the young person has been placed in foster care, this is negotiated with the placing local authority.
- If the child is under a Full Care Order, the local authority shares parental responsibility with the parents and can delegate more day-to-day decisions to the foster carer.
Regardless of the legal route, foster carers are never expected to act outside of what has been delegated to them – but they should feel confident in what they can decide.
Delegated authority is often grouped into three key areas:
Health
Foster carers can usually:
- Book and attend GP, dental, and optician appointments
- Authorise over-the-counter medication (e.g. paracetamol)
They may need consent from the social worker for:
- Planned surgeries or specialist referrals
- Vaccinations (depending on the care plan and legal order)
Example:
If 10-year-old Layla has an earache, her carer can book a GP appointment and collect a prescription without needing to ask permission first. This allows for responsive, practical care — just like any parent would provide.
Education
Foster carers are typically authorised to:
- Sign school trip forms
- Attend parents’ evenings
- Speak to teachers about progress or behaviour
They’ll need local authority agreement to:
- Change schools
- Approve trips abroad
- Consent to specialist education services like CAMHS
Example:
When Tom, aged 14, is invited on a weekend football trip with school, his carer can sign the form straight away — no delays, no extra stress, just inclusion.
Day-to-Day Care
This includes:
- Bedtimes, routines, and personal care
- What the child eats and wears
- Hobbies and after-school activities
- Pocket money and mobile phone use
The aim is to make the child feel part of everyday family life, without needing to “get permission” for the kinds of things other children take for granted.
Travel and Holidays
Carers can usually take children on:
- UK holidays
- Day trips or weekends away with notice
Trips abroad will always require local authority permission and may require permission from the birth family, depending on the legal order in place for the young person.
Contact arrangements are agreed and recorded in the Placement Plan. Foster carers might support contact by:
- Driving the child to visits
- Hosting supervised sessions
- Helping with phone or video contact
However, foster carers cannot cancel, change or reduce contact without agreement from the social worker. If the social care team cannot be contacted to make these amendments, the foster carers supervising social worker should give their views on what can be agreed.
It’s totally normal to feel uncertain about what decisions you can or can’t make — especially in the early days of a placement.
If in doubt:
- Check the Placement Plan
- Speak to your supervising social worker
- If it’s urgent, contact the local authority’s emergency duty team
At Lika Family Fostering, carers are never left to navigate this alone — we’ll always work with you to ensure you feel supported, confident, and informed.
Delegated authority isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about empowering carers, promoting stability, and normalising childhood.
When foster carers can make everyday decisions:
- Children feel like part of the family
- Stress and uncertainty are reduced
- Relationships between carers, professionals, and families are strengthened
It also shows the carer is trusted, capable, and seen as a key part of the child’s support system — which is exactly what they are.
Delegated authority plays a vital role in fostering. It gives carers clarity, young people consistency, and the whole system a sense of calm and collaboration. It’s not about giving foster carers total control — it’s about giving them the practical tools to care confidently and compassionately.
If you’re ever unsure about what delegated authority looks like in your placement, talk it through with your supervising social worker. At Lika, we believe fostering works best when carers are equipped not just with love and commitment — but with information and empowerment, too.
Lika is a therapeutic fostering agency, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Every decision we take is based on Systemic Family Therapy principles. That means relationships, openness and honesty are at the heart of everything we do. All Lika foster carers receive extensive training in Systemic Family Therapy principles and therapeutic parenting techniques.
It’s similar to the training a newly qualified social worker receives (although not quite as technical) — so you’ll be fully prepared for your first placement and be viewed as a professional foster carer in your own right.
Being a Lika foster carer means always receiving specialised and consistent support from our expert team of professionals.
Your support will include:
- 1 to 4 weekly supervisions with your supervising social worker to talk through and understand the needs of your young person
- 24/7 out-of-hours access to one of the Lika team, so you’re never unsupported if things feel difficult
- Access to Lika’s team of skilled and knowledgeable Systemic Psychotherapist Consultants and Systemic Social Work Practitioners, who are never stuck for ideas on how to support
- Virtual monthly foster carers support meeting, led and chaired by experienced foster carers
- Virtual fortnightly Therapeutic Family Consultations, facilitated by one of our psychotherapists and open to all our agency’s foster carers
- Membership to the National Association of Therapeutic Parents and The Fostering Network
- Life coaching for foster children, birth children and foster carers
- Our Mentor Support Scheme, which partners new foster carers with more experienced foster carers
- Free training for fostering support networks. (Your family and friends are welcome to join any of the training Lika offers.)
- Access to Lika’s support workers, depending on the level of need for the young person
- Access to Lika’s Educational Consultant, who can offer ideas and advocacy in supporting young people to achieve in education
- Help from Lika’s Systemic Social Work Practitioners/Therapists, who can undertake skilled direct work without waiting lists for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
- 14 to 21 days of paid respite (depending on complexity) to recharge your batteries and have some space for self-care.
If you’re in south or east London and you’re interested in becoming a foster carer, give the helpful team at Lika a call on 020 3370 0987. We’re here to answer all your questions.
We’re currently in: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Bexley, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Croydon, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster, Enfield, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Waltham Forest, Harrow and Essex.
