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 Local Authority 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. The child/young person might be feeling worried about what is going to happen to them even if the move is one that they feel positive about.

You may feel anxious about the child/young person’s move too, this is natural, that’s why it is important for everyone that there is a clear plan about what will happen and who will do what. It is really important that you talk to your Fostering Social Worker, especially if you think that the move is not in the child’s best interests.

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 home.  

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 Local Authority 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 meeting, will be held.

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

During a stability 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, 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.

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 01432 383222. The number for support out of office hours via the Emergency Duty Team is 01905 768020.

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.

You have an important part to play in helping the child to move and should be positive about it even if it is in difficult circumstances. When you are talking to the child about the move be positive about why they are moving and what will happen.

Plan "goodbyes" for friends and family members that the child is close to.

You should put together information about the child/young person’s daily routine, likes/dislikes and any other important information that will help the new carer and let the child’s social worker know if you are happy to talk to the new carer.

If the child/young person has photographs, life story book and other information about the time that they have spent with you, you should make sure that they go with them.

Make sure you pack all important documents such as their passport.

You should provide clear instructions about any medication or appointments the child may have.

The child’s belongings should be moved in a suitcase or holdall and never be transported in bin-bags or other inappropriate containers.

Let the child know what contact they may have with you in the future and provide them with photographs and mementoes of their time with you.

If a placement ends without this being planned, a disruption meeting may be held. A disruption meeting is an opportunity for everyone who has been involved in the child/young person’s care to look at what has happened, what went well and what could have gone better. This helps not only you as a carer but may help the child in future placements.

We appreciate that regardless of the situation, a child moving on will be an emotional time for you and your family. Some foster carers like to have time for themselves and their family to reflect and recuperate after a placement has ended. Others prefer to busy themselves. However, it is important that all concerned have time to reflect on what has happened, and anything that may need to be learned. Please do make sure you seek support should you need it, from your Fostering Social Worker, the Fostering Service, or other support agencies, such as The Fostering Network.

The Fostering Network also have developed the Keep Connected Principles in consultation with foster carers, fostering services and organisations in the care sector, including those working with young people, to shape how transitions from and within the care system are approached across the UK. The aim is for all children and young people who are moving on from foster families to be enabled to keep in touch with them – and with other significant people in their lives – through better understanding of the importance of this, planning and support. For more information please visit Keep Connected Campaign (The Fostering Network).