1.2 Explain the changes that a child or young person accessing foster care may experience

This guide will help you answer 1.2 Explain the changes that a child or young person accessing foster care may experience.

When a child or young person moves into foster care, their life can change in many ways. This change is often sudden, and it can affect many areas of their development, emotions and routines. Workers supporting these children need to understand the impact such a move can have. By recognising the types of changes they may experience, you can provide better support and help them feel more secure.

Foster care is provided for children who cannot live with their birth families. This might be for short-term or long-term reasons. Sometimes the child has experienced neglect, abuse, or other forms of harm. The decision to place them into foster care is made to keep them safe, but it can still be very unsettling for the child.

Changes in Living Arrangements

Moving into foster care often means living in a new house or flat. With this change comes:

• New surroundings
• Different bedroom and furniture
• Adjusting to new household routines
• Learning house rules

A child may have to leave the home they are familiar with, which can create feelings of sadness or confusion. They might miss their old bedroom, toys, and comfort items. They may also have to share a room for the first time or move from a busy household to a quieter one.

The foster home may have different expectations for behaviour. Mealtimes, bedtime routines, or even how they interact during the day can be different. These shifts can cause stress while they adapt.

Changes in Family Contact

A child or young person in foster care may no longer see their parents or siblings every day. This can lead to strong feelings of loss, loneliness, or worry. Contact arrangements are often decided through social services. The child may:

• Visit their family under supervision
• Have phone or video calls
• Receive letters or photos

These visits can be emotional. Sometimes the child may look forward to them, but visits can also bring back difficult memories or feelings. The child might worry about their family or feel responsible for what has happened.

Changes in Emotional Wellbeing

Leaving their home and moving in with strangers can affect a child’s emotional state. Common feelings include:

• Anxiety about what will happen next
• Fear of rejection or being unwanted
• Anger about being moved
• Sadness and grief for lost relationships

Children may struggle to trust adults, especially if they have been hurt before. They might see the foster carers as people who will not stay in their life, making it harder for them to form bonds.

Some children may withdraw and become quiet, while others might act out with challenging behaviour. These reactions are ways of expressing emotions they may not understand.

Changes in School Life

Moving into foster care often means a change of school. This can disrupt their learning and social life. They may need to:

• Start in a new class
• Meet new teachers and classmates
• Adjust to different teaching styles
• Catch up on missed lessons

Friendships may be interrupted. The child might lose the support of friends they have known for years. They may be shy about making new friends or feel self-conscious about their situation.

Settling into a new school can take time. The foster carers and school staff should work together to help the child manage this change.

Changes in Daily Routines

Every household has its own way of managing daily life. A child may find that in foster care:

• Meal times are at different hours
• Food choices are unfamiliar
• Bedtimes are earlier or later
• Weekend activities vary

These differences can be unsettling but may also be positive. For example, they might now have regular mealtimes if this was not the case before. Over time, consistency can help the child feel safe.

Changes in Relationships

In foster care, the child will meet many new people. This may include foster carers, their families, social workers, teachers, and other professionals. They may have to:

• Build new bonds with foster carers
• Learn to trust adults who are there to help
• Understand new dynamics in the foster family
• Handle mixed feelings about past and present relationships

Some children may feel torn between loyalty to their birth family and developing relationships with foster carers. They might feel guilt if they become attached to foster carers.

Cultural Changes

If a child is placed with a foster family from a different cultural background, they may experience changes in:

• Language used at home
• Religious practices
• Food and traditions
• Clothing styles

They may feel uncomfortable or confused if these are very different from what they are used to. Foster carers should try to respect and encourage the child’s own culture, while introducing them gently to new traditions.

Changes in Identity

The move into foster care can affect how a child sees themselves. They may feel:

• Different from peers
• Stigmatised by the foster care label
• Unsure about where they belong

Some may develop questions about their personal history and future. They might wonder if they will return home or remain in foster care long term. This uncertainty can affect self-esteem and confidence.

Changes in Behaviour

The stress of moving into foster care can result in changes in behaviour. This could include:

• Aggression or defiance
• Withdrawal from others
• Difficulty sleeping
• Regression to earlier behaviours such as bedwetting

These reactions are often coping mechanisms. They may be temporary, but some might need professional support from counsellors or psychologists.

Changes in Attachments

Many children in foster care have experienced broken attachments with adults. Attachment is the bond between a child and caregiver. A sudden change in caregivers can:

• Damage existing attachments
• Make it harder to form new ones
• Lead to insecure attachment styles

Supportive foster carers can help repair these bonds, but it may take time. Trust is built through consistent care, attention, and showing the child they are valued.

Changes in Health Care

Moving to foster care may involve new health routines. The child might:

• See different doctors or dentists
• Receive health checks
• Have needs identified that were overlooked before

Health care might improve if the foster carers can arrange regular appointments. Some children may be anxious about meeting unfamiliar health professionals.

Changes Linked to Past Trauma

Some children enter foster care after experiencing trauma. Their past experiences may cause changes when they move:

• Flashbacks
• Difficulty concentrating
• Emotional triggers in new environments

Foster carers may notice signs of distress when the child is exposed to reminders of the past. This can affect how they settle into the new home.

Changes in Legal Status and Support

Moving into foster care means new legal arrangements. This might be:

• Care orders
• Temporary placement agreements
• Involvement of social services

The child may meet different professionals who explain their rights and care plans. Foster carers might help the child understand the decisions made about them.

Supporting the Child Through Changes

Workers and foster carers can support the child by:

• Providing consistent routines
• Listening to their concerns
• Encouraging them to express feelings
• Helping them maintain contact with family where possible
• Offering opportunities to build new friendships

Patience and understanding are key in helping them adapt to the many changes.

Final Thoughts

A move into foster care can reshape nearly every part of a child’s life. They may experience changes to where they live, who they see each day, how they go to school, what routines they follow, and how they view themselves. These changes often happen at a time when they already feel vulnerable.

Understanding these changes helps foster carers and workers give better support. It allows them to recognise emotional reactions and behaviour as part of the child’s adaptation to a new situation. By offering stability, care, and respect for the child’s background, foster carers can make the transition less overwhelming and build a foundation for positive growth.