What If an Allegation Is Made?

When you foster, you open your home and your heart—and you also work inside one of the most closely-regulated spaces in children’s social care. Allegations can happen to careful, conscientious foster carers. This article explains, in plain English, what typically happens if an allegation is made; what you should do (and not do); what support you can expect; the possible outcomes; and how to look after yourself and the child through the process. It is written for England and draws on statutory guidance and sector best practice. Always follow your agency/local authority policy if it differs in detail.

First principles: safety, fairness, and a clear process

Safeguarding guidance in England makes two things very clear: the child’s safety comes first, and adults are entitled to a fair, prompt, and proportionate process. Allegations about people who work with or care for children (including foster carers) are managed through a specific managing allegations route overseen by the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The LADO’s role is to coordinate and oversee how concerns are handled across agencies; by guidance, the LADO should be informed within one working day where the threshold is met (for example, harm, possible criminal offence, or behaviour indicating unsuitability to work with children).

Your fostering service also operates under the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 and the National Minimum Standards (NMS). These set expectations for safe caring, recording, supervision, and how services respond to allegations. Ofsted inspects agencies on how well they keep children safe and how they support carers when concerns arise.

How allegations usually come to light—and what happens next

Allegations can be raised by a child, birth family member, school, health professional, visitor, or someone reading your records. Sometimes the concern is about something recent; sometimes it’s historical. The moment a concern is identified:

1) Immediate safeguarding checks

Your supervising social worker (SSW) and children’s social care check whether any immediate action is needed to keep the child safe. In some cases the child may remain in your care with a support plan; in others, there may be a temporary move while information is gathered. This is not a judgment on you—it’s a precaution while facts are established.

2) LADO consultation and strategy discussion

Where the threshold is met, your agency/local authority should notify the LADO within one working day. A strategy discussion/meeting may be convened with the LADO, children’s social care, the police (if a suspected offence), health, education, and your fostering service to agree the plan: who will do which enquiries, what you should be told, what support is offered, and how the child’s welfare is safeguarded in the meantime.

3) Enquiries and parallel processes

If the concern suggests significant harm or risk, children’s social care may start a Section 47 enquiry (Children Act 1989) into the child’s welfare. If a potential crime is indicated, the police lead on the criminal investigation. Your fostering service may also conduct its own internal investigation about standards of care, but child protection and any police enquiries take priority; disciplinary or standards processes usually pause until those conclude.

4) What you’re told and who speaks with you

You should be informed as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so. You’ll be told the nature of the allegation, what you need to do next, and who your point of contact is. Because children’s accounts need careful handling, do not question the child or anyone connected; avoid conversations that could influence evidence. Keep normal routines as best you can unless advised otherwise.

Your role: how to respond well

Be open, calm, and factual

Provide information promptly and stick to facts. If you have relevant records (daily logs, contact notes, messages, calendars), keep them secure and share copies through your SSW as requested. Good daily recording often shortens enquiries because it shows what happened and when.

Follow instructions on contact and confidentiality

You may be advised not to discuss the matter with other carers, school staff, or friends. Do not post about the situation on social media or share information that could identify a child. This protects both you and the child, and it avoids data protection issues.

Keep your safer caring plan current

Investigations routinely look at safer caring: sleeping and bathroom routines, visitors, transport, and contact supervision. If your plan needs updating, do that with your SSW. The NMS expects carers and agencies to keep safer caring guidance live and reviewed.

Access support—don’t go through it alone

You are entitled to support. Many fostering services arrange independent support for carers facing allegations; membership bodies also provide advice lines and peer support. Make sure you know how to contact them and ask for practical help (attending meetings, understanding letters, coping with stress at home).

What happens to your approval and placements?

During an investigation, agencies make risk-based decisions: pause matching, place additional supervision/visiting, or in some cases suspend taking new placements. Where a child moves, this is usually about minimising distress and protecting the integrity of enquiries; it is not, in itself, a finding against you. Independent reviewing mechanisms (panel/review) consider any outcomes after enquiries conclude. Ofsted expects agencies to balance child safety with fair treatment of carers and to evidence support offered.

Possible outcomes—and what they mean

Allegations typically conclude with one of several standard outcomes used across LADO processes:

• Substantiated: there is sufficient evidence to prove the allegation.
• Unsubstantiated: insufficient evidence to prove or disprove (this does not imply guilt).
• Unfounded: no evidence or a proper basis for the allegation; it may reflect misinterpretation.
• False: sufficient evidence to disprove.
• Malicious: deliberate invention or deception.

Where an allegation is substantiated, the fostering service must consider your approval, any practice learning, and—where the “harm test” is met and you are removed (or would have been removed had you not resigned)—a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Employers/agencies have a legal duty to refer in those circumstances; DBS decides on barring.

Where an allegation is unfounded, false, unsubstantiated or malicious, guidance emphasises that such outcomes should not be included in employer references, nor should a history of such allegations be used to disadvantage you. Agencies should also consider how to restore normality and confidence after a stressful process.

Timescales: how long will this take?

Everyone wants allegations handled swiftly. Statutory guidance expects prompt, coordinated action and regular review by the LADO so that cases do not drift. That said, timing depends on complexity, whether police are involved, the availability of witnesses, and (sometimes) court timetables. Ask your SSW for a clear contact plan and for updates at agreed intervals. GOV.UK

Your rights and support during the process

Clear information and a named contact

You should be told the allegation’s nature, the process being followed, and who you can speak to. If you do not understand something, ask for it in writing.

Independent support

You can request independent support—someone outside your supervising team who understands allegations and can help you prepare for meetings, navigate policy, and manage stress at home. Sector bodies signpost to this support and provide practical resources.

Representation and complaints

You can use your agency’s complaints process if you believe the process was unfair or delayed, and you can escalate to the local authority or the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman where relevant. Inspection frameworks look at how well providers support carers and handle concerns.

What you should do—practical steps that help

Keep records neat, neutral, and current

Daily logs, contact notes, medication sheets, and incident forms should be factual, timely, and stored securely. Good recording protects children and carers alike—and is exactly what inspectors look for under the NMS/SCCIF.

Press pause on speculation

Do not try to “solve” the allegation yourself. Avoid conversations with the child or birth family about the allegation. Do not canvass colleagues for opinions. Follow your SSW’s guidance on communication.

Care for the child’s day-to-day world

Maintain routines. Liaise with school about neutral practicalities (transport, homework) without straying into the allegation itself. If contact arrangements change, record what happened and how the child coped.

Look after yourself and your family

Allegations are stressful. Ask your SSW about respite, practical help, and counselling. Independent support for your own children can be helpful if the household feels unsettled.

After the outcome: rebuilding and learning

If the allegation is not substantiated

Ask for a debrief. What, if anything, needs to change in safer caring? Do you need extra training, equipment, or adjustments to contact/transport? Consider a short reflective note to file, agreed with your SSW, so there is a clear record of learning without implying fault.

If the allegation is substantiated

Your agency will consider your approval and may bring your case to panel or review with recommendations. If you are de-registered or removed from regulated activity because you posed a risk of harm, the agency will consider a DBS referral as required by law. You should be told the outcome of the process and what it means for you.

References and future work

Guidance for London and other safeguarding partnerships is explicit: false, unsubstantiated, unfounded, or malicious outcomes should not appear in employer references. If you later move agency (a normal part of fostering), ask for a copy of what will be shared.

Preventing allegations—and protecting everyone

Allegations can’t be eliminated, but you can lower risk and strengthen your position if concerns arise:

Keep safer caring “live”

Review room-sharing, bathroom routines, visitors, transport, social media rules, and recording. Ensure every adult in the home understands and follows the plan.

Supervise contact and transport well

For supervised contact, follow the plan precisely; record times, locations, who was present, and any notable events. For transport, use agreed routes, seat children appropriately, and record mileage/appointments.

Maintain professional boundaries online

Use privacy settings, avoid posting identifiable information, and teach household members—especially teens—about digital boundaries.

Keep training and supervision up to date

Book onto “safer caring,” “recording for court,” and trauma/therapeutic parenting refreshers. Inspectors look for a culture of continuous improvement and reflective practice.

Special cases you might hear about

Parent & child (assessment) fostering

These placements add extra observation and recording, sometimes used in court. Clear boundaries and meticulous, neutral notes are essential, and agencies should provide specific training and oversight.

Historical or third-party allegations

Occasionally, concerns arise from outside fostering (e.g., workplace, volunteering). The LADO where the alleged conduct occurred will usually lead, but your fostering service still must risk-assess your fostering role.

Key takeaways

• Tell your SSW immediately if you hear of a concern, and expect the LADO to be consulted within a working day where the threshold is met.
• Do not investigate yourself. Keep to normal routines unless advised and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Use support. Independent support for foster carers exists; ask for it early.
• Outcomes are standardised (substantiated, unsubstantiated, unfounded, false, malicious). Non-substantiated outcomes should not harm your references.
• Where the harm test is met and you are removed from regulated activity, agencies have a legal duty to refer to DBS; DBS decides on barring.