Permanent Fostering
Sometimes foster carers find that a strong mutual attachment develops between them and certain children who were placed on a temporary fostering basis. On these occasions it is important that carers discuss their feelings and wishes with their link worker and the child's worker.
The carers' wish to offer permanency cannot be pursued until and unless the child has been presented at the Adoption and Permanence Panel and registered as a child in need of permanent substitute care. Carers may of course express a wish to be considered as permanent carers in general at any time.
Once plans are established and the child has been registered as requiring permanent care the carers should notify the Service Manager (Accommodated and Aftercare) in writing of their wish to be considered as permanent carers for the child they foster. The Service Manager will then notify the managers responsible for the child and the foster carers.
The decision about whether a temporary carer's request to be considered for permanence is presented to panel will depend on the individual circumstances of each case. The general presumption is that such a placement will have considerable advantages for the child, but the following factors must be taken into account:
- what are the child's views?
- what are the parent's views?
- how long has the child been living with the foster carer?
- does the offer from the temporary foster carer match the criteria established by the adoption and permanence panel for this child?
- what is the likely availability of other permanent placement options?
If there is uncertainty about whether the request by the carers should be agreed, the Service Manager (Accommodated and Aftercare) will arrange for the situation to be discussed by the adoption and permanence panel. If the panel agrees the request, arrangements will be made for a further assessment of the carers. This transfer to permanence assessment is likely to involve a homestudy and preparation groups in the normal way and will focus on the differences of providing permanent care.
Once the assessment is complete the carers' assessment will be presented to the adoption and permanence panel. As in the standard procedure, matching will be a two stage process; firstly approval as permanent carers, and secondly matching with the particular child or children. Depending on the circumstances of the child and the carers, and on the availability of other approved carers, the matching panel may be asked to consider a potential match with the temporary carer alongside other prospective permanent carers.
Next section: Information on Assessment