Our Approach to Matching

How we match young people and foster carers

At Lika, matching is about more than ticking boxes — it’s about building relationships that feel safe, stable and right for everyone involved. We take time to get to know you, your household, your strengths and preferences, so we can make thoughtful decisions about which young people will thrive in your care.

Using our systemic approach, we consider the full picture: a young person’s needs, background and experiences, as well as your values, availability and support network. We believe great matches are made when people feel understood — and that’s where we focus our energy.

We work with all London boroughs, as well as local authorities from across England.

“Matching isn’t about speed — it’s about connection. We get to know both carers and young people to build relationships that work.”

Our Approach to Matching

How we match young people and foster carers

We work with all London boroughs, as well as local authorities from across England.

“Matching isn’t about speed — it’s about connection. We get to know both carers and young people to build relationships that work.”

What Ofsted says

“Leaders continually strive to improve an already high-quality service and ensure that children consistently receive thoughtful, ambitious and individualised care.”

Download ›Rated Outstanding – our latest Ofsted report

jamie mccreghan — Jamie McCreghan, Lika Director

Click here to hear about more about matching

How we promote your family

Once you’ve been approved at panel, our Matching Lead will create a Local Authority profile for your household, alongside a young person’s booklet designed with our in-house team. These give both the placing local authority and any potential young person a real sense of who you are as a family.

Local authorities will review your profile before any matching meeting to consider whether your household could be a good fit for their young person. Don’t worry — you’ll be closely involved in creating this profile. You’ll choose the photos and help write the descriptions to make sure everything feels accurate and reflects your family in an honest, welcoming way. This helps the young person get a feel for what life with you might be like before they arrive.

How matching works at Lika: Step by Step

1.		We get to know you

		We get to know your lifestyle, interests, home setup, and values — as well as your experience, availability, and support network — to understand what kind of fostering feels right for you.

2.		Clear communication

		If you think a young person could be a good match, let us know. We’ll collect your questions and follow up with the Local Authority to find out more.

3.		Gaining your views

		If you feel a young person could be a great match, we want to hear from you. We’ll then gather your questions and pose them to the placing Local Authority to learn more about the child.

4.		We understand the young person

		Our Matching Lead gathers detailed information about the young person’s needs, routines, personality, and history from the Local Authority, current carer (if applicable), school, and risk assessments. They’ll stay in regular contact with you throughout to share updates and hear your thoughts.

5.		Matching meeting

		If we all feel there’s potential for a match, we’ll arrange a virtual meeting with you, the young person’s social worker, their manager, and Lika’s Matching Lead. Don’t worry — Lika will lead the conversation and guide you through it.

6.		Bringing it all together

		After the meeting, you and Lika’s matching lead will reflect on whether the match feels right, whether more information is needed, and what support might be required to make it work. We’ll also check in with the social worker to hear their views and whether they feel it’s a positive match.

7.		You say yes or no

		We proceed only if it feels right for you.

7.		You say yes or no

		We proceed only if it feels right for you.

The transition

If approved, Lika will coordinate with the Local Authority on timings, introductions, and support.

If not approved, we will inform the Local Authority of the reasons and restart the matching process with you.

Lika is proud to be rated Outstanding by Ofsted, reflecting the depth of care, thought, and professionalism we bring to every part of our work.

This rating recognises our commitment to exceptional matching, meaningful relationships, and creating lasting change for young people and foster families.

Frequently Asked Questions

	Will I feel pressured to look after a young person?

	No. At Lika, you’ll never be pressured to look after a young person that doesn’t feel right. Matching is a two-way conversation — and we’d never match a child where a carer feels unsure. It’s about the right fit, not just any fit. We wait for the match that works for everyone.

	I’ve heard that I won’t get much information about the young person?

	We believe informed carers make better matches. You’ll get detailed information about the young person’s needs, background, routines, and support plan — so you can make a confident, informed decision.

	How long does the matching process take?

	It varies. Some matches come together in days, others take weeks — and that’s OK. At Lika, we focus on the right fit, not a fast one, and keep you involved every step of the way.

	Will I meet the young person before they transition to my care?

	Yes – wherever possible, we plan introductions so you and the young person can meet before the move. We’ll guide the transition at a pace that feels right for everyone.

Learn more about matching

“With all new carers, I want to introduce them slowly into the role so they can build up their confidence and have a sense of building on the knowledge and skills that they’ve got.”
Lika’s Matching Lead

›Read more about matching