Find information here for parents and carers of children living with HIV where children’s services are involved with the family.

Local authority children’s services support children and families with needs that cannot be fully met by health, education or community services. They have a duty to keep children and vulnerable adults safe. 

When a child is unable to live with their parent or a wider family member for a range of reasons, they may need to be looked after in care organised by the local authority. You can find out more about children’s services and what to expect if they become involved with your family from Family Lives and Family Rights Group.

Foster carers

When a child is placed with a foster carer, the child will have their own named social worker who is responsible for making sure they are looked after properly. 

If it is not possible to find a foster carer to look after a child, the child may stay at a children’s home. This would not happen with a younger child. However, sometimes with older teenagers this can be a better option as they can find it difficult to settle into a different family home.

Find information for foster carers here.

Confidentiality and HIV

It is important to remember that you have a right to confidentiality over your own and your child’s medical information. If you are living with HIV, you do not have to tell the foster carer who is going to be looking after your child, and the social worker should not tell the foster carer without your permission.

Similarly, you should not be forced to tell a foster carer who is looking after your child about their HIV status. For example, if it is a temporary stay and the child is older and can manage their medication, there may be no reason for the foster carer to be told that they are living with HIV.

It might be helpful to talk to the social worker when you first meet them to make sure there is a clear understanding that it is you who decides who is told, and that a confidentiality agreement is made between you. If they question this, you can tell them to get information from professional organisations such as Chiva or the National AIDS Trust.

Younger children

A younger child needs more care and support with medication, and if they are staying in foster care, it may be necessary for a foster carer to be told about the child’s HIV status.

Again, it is important that a confidentiality agreement is made between you and the foster carer at the beginning so the foster carer is made aware they cannot tell other people this information (which includes their family members).

It will also be very important that the foster carer receives training and has access to information and support about how to look after a child living with HIV. The social worker should make sure this happens. Chiva has information for foster carers about looking after a child living with HIV.

Discrimination in care

If you feel you or your child are being treated differently by social workers or foster carers because you live with HIV, you should make a complaint following the social services complaints procedure.

Include the name of the person who discriminated against you, and when you spoke to them. You may be able to get support to do this from:

  • Your health care team 
  • An HIV support service
  • Coram Voice – an organisation who help people make complaints about the care of children by local authorities
  • The National AIDS Trust who can give advice and guidance on your rights and how professionals should treat you.

If you or your child were subjected to serious discrimination due to living with HIV it is very important that you tell the above people or organisations so they can challenge this and support you in dealing with it.