Ending a Placement

Foster placements end for a number of reasons. Sometimes children return to their birth families, this can mean their parents, grandparents or other relatives. This is the preferred choice as long as we know the child will be safe. Other children will move on to a new family through adoption or long term foster care.  If it’s a young person, they may be moving on to live independently or into supported lodgings. Sometimes children move to another foster home or other accommodation organised by the Children & Young People’s Service because the placement is not working.

Ideally, all moves from foster care should be planned well in advance, giving the child plenty of time to get used to the idea and to prepare themselves for the change.  In some situations though, moving is not planned. This can happen when parents decide to resume the care of their child immediately, or when a foster placement breaks down or is disrupted.

Even in situations where moves are not planned, the social worker will want to arrange some limited time for planning and arranging the next placement in order to avoid moving a child as a result of a crisis or emergency. Emergency moves can be very disturbing and frightening for the child.

It can often happen that, once placements have ended, no arrangements have been made for future contact. However, it is very important for the child not to just move away and have no further contact. The longer the placement has been, the more important this is considered for the child.

Any child or young person will need time to adjust to the idea of moving to another placement. They need honest explanations and time to say goodbye.

There will inevitably be questions surrounding a child’s move, such as:

• Who will be expected to tell the child about the need to move?
• Will this be before the next placement has been identified?
• How will this be explained?
• Who will be telling the school?
• Who will be telling the parents?
• Who will be arranging for them to say goodbye to their friends?
• What contact will they have with the foster carers and others after their move?
• If the child is going to continue being looked after, who will ensure the next carers have all the information they need to look after the child – the important things like details of their dentist, doctor’s name and contact telephone number, health needs, dietary requirements and name of school and contact telephone number.

For younger children a moving calendar can help them work out the timing and the plans for introductions to their next placement.   

Carers should ensure that when a child moves on, they take all of their personal possessions and clothing that has been bought for them. Carers are expected to purchase suitcases or other suitable luggage for the child’s effects and not use black plastic bags or other inappropriate containers (see NYAS, My Things Matter Report). This should also include documents and paperwork such as passports and a child’s red book for example.

The Children and Young People’s Service has a legal duty to remove a child from a placement if that placement is no longer considered to be safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare. In the unlikely event of this situation arising, the child’s social worker will talk to you and the child, so that the placement ending causes the least possible disruption to the child.

When the Care Plan for the child to remain in a foster home is in danger of breaking down or has broken down, a meeting known as a Stability in Placement meeting, will be held.

Placement review meetings will always be held following the breakdown of a long term placement. 

During a stability in placement meeting the following issues will be discussed:

• Brief history of the child’s care prior to the request for placement;
• Identified needs of the child for accommodation or care;
• Foster carer’s approval and skills to meet the child’s needs;
• The matching and introduction process;
• The placement;
• The stages of the placement and support given;
• The circumstances leading to breakdown;
• Any identified learning processes for the future placement of the child;
• The child’s, parents and foster carer’s wishes for the future, as appropriate;
• Any identified training needs for the foster carers or staff.

After the review meeting, the Chair will prepare a report that will include an action plan detailing plans for future placements with the foster carer, points that have been learnt, any further training needs of the carer, future plans for the child and responsibility for action. The foster carer and all workers who are involved with the child will receive a copy of the action plan outlining the results of the meeting.

If, after the help provided, you are still feeling that the situation is intolerable for you and your family, please give us plenty of notice to make alternative arrangements. You should explain the situation to the social workers involved and then put your intentions in writing to ensure everyone is absolutely clear about the issues. We may need to convene a review meeting to make new plans and find another placement. The child will need time to adjust to the idea of another move and they will need your support, as well as the social workers involved to understand why this is happening. This period will not be easy but you and the child will receive additional support through this time. This may be a time of all sorts of mixed feelings, of sadness and anger, of guilt and relief. This is a time for all concerned to work together to ensure as much continuity as possible for the child, e.g. to maintain a school place, ensure friends and family can keep in touch etc.

It may be that you feel a child must be moved urgently. This may, for instance, be when you or someone in your family has been assaulted or when you are in fear that this may happen. It may be that the child‘s behaviour is posing a danger to him or herself. If you feel circumstances are unsafe, contact us immediately and discuss the situation.

The number to contact the Fostering Team during office hours is 020 3373 3844.  The number for support out of office hours is 020 8430 2000.

Helping the child to move on

Any child or young person will need time to adjust to the idea of moving to another placement. They need honest explanations and time to say goodbye. Talk with the workers concerned and make a plan to share the responsibility for them at this time.

• Who will be expected to tell the child about the need to move?
• Will this be before the next placement has been identified?
• How will this be explained?
• Who will be telling the school?
• Who will be telling the parents?
• Who will be arranging for them to say goodbye to their friends?
• What contact will they have with the foster carers and others after their move?
• Who will ensure the next carers have all the information they need to look after the child – the important things like details of their dentist, doctor’s appointments etc?

For younger children a moving calendar can help them work out the timing and the plans for introductions to their next placement.

Some foster carers like to have time for themselves and their family to reflect and recuperate after a placement has ended in this way. Others prefer to busy themselves thinking about the next child that may be placed. It is important, however, that all concerned have time to think about what has been learned.