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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
FOSTER A CHILD IN CARE?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
FOSTER A CHILD IN CARE?
THE LEGAL CONTEXT
It’s important that you have an understanding of some of the
legal context for your new role as a kinship foster carer.
There are two ways for a child to come into care and become
a looked after child (LAC).
The first is through a voluntary arrangement with the consent
of the child’s parent/s or someone with parental responsibility
for the child. This means that the child is “accommodated” by
the Trust and the child’s parent/s maintain full parental
responsibility.
The second is through a Care Order which is sought by the
Trust. This means that parental responsibility for the child is
shared between the parent/s and the Trust.
IF A CHILD OR YOUNG PERSON NEEDS TO COME
INTO CARE
When a child or young person needs to be looked after, the
Trust will ask the parent/s if there is a relative or friend who the
child already knows and has a relationship with who may be
able to care for them. If there is, the Trust will speak to them
and if arrangements are suitable the child or young person will
be placed with them.
Where it is not possible for the child or young person to stay
with a relative or friend (known as a kinship foster carer), the
Trust will then consider a Trust foster placement. This
placement is referred to as short-term foster care.
During this time, the Trust will work with the parent/s, the child
or young person and the foster carer to see if the child or young
person can return home or if a longer term care arrangement is
needed.
“Certainly is an adventure…..”
“…you get so much out of it, it’s rewarding
when you see their faces, you see them
happy, see them stable and secure….”
“…and safe”
Margaret and Michelle
PERMANENCE FOR CHILDREN IN CARE
All children need a sense of permanence to thrive. A
framework of emotional, physical and legal permanence gives
a child a sense of security, continuity, commitment and identity.
When a child or young person is taken into care, the Trust will
try to ensure they have a stable environment, consistent care
and an opportunity to develop secure emotional attachments
to help build and maintain strong and lasting relationships and
a sense of family.
Each child or young person in care should have a plan outlining
what their longer term care arrangements are. This is called a
permanency plan. This should be known by the time the child
or young person has been in their placement for six months
and formally agreed at their first six month LAC review i.e. nine
months after their admission into care. The plan should include
timescales for any work which needs to be done to settle the
arrangements and ensure the child, their kinship foster carer
and parent/s are clear about what is planned.
Most children in care will return home and many who cannot
will retain close links with their birth families. For children or
young people who cannot return home and who require an
alternative permanent option the following will be considered
and a decision made as to which is most appropriate.
LONG TERM FOSTER CARE
LONG TERM FOSTERING WILL NOT NORMALLY BE
CONSIDERED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10.
If the child is to remain in longer term foster care the Trust will
speak to you as the current foster carer to see if the child can
remain with you. If this is not possible, the Trust will next
consider other family or friends (kinship foster carers) and then
non-relative foster carers.
If the child remains in your care longer term, you as a kinship
foster carer will not have parental responsibility. This will either
remain with the birth parent/s or be shared by the birth parent/s
and the Trust. The child’s social worker will explain what this
means for you in more detail. You will continue to receive
fostering allowances. The child will continue to have a social
worker who visits at least every month and will have a LAC
(looked after child) review meeting at least every six months.
Foster carers caring for children in longer term foster care are
expected to make a commitment to care for the child until they
are emotionally ready to leave home. It is expected that young
people over 18 will remain in care as part of the GEM Scheme.
We have some people who still are with their
kinship foster carers aged 22, 23, 24 and
beyond which is a fantastic tribute to them
Lawrence,
social worker
WHAT IS THE GEM SCHEME?
GEMS (Going the Extra Mile Scheme) was set up to encourage
young people to remain with their foster carers until they are
emotionally and physically ready to leave care. The scheme
provides foster carers with practical and financial support.
Support through the scheme is available until the young person
is 21 years old and may continue beyond this in specific
circumstances.
RESIDENCE ORDER
This is a court order which determines with whom the child will
live. It doesn’t give you full parental responsibility - you would
share this with the birth parent/s. You may receive an
allowance called a Residence Order Allowance. The child will
no longer be in foster care, therefore they will not have a social
worker visiting monthly and there will be no LAC reviews.
It is important to know that, even though the child is no longer in
foster care, support will still be provided if required, either by
the Trust or other professional.
ADOPTION ORDER
An adoption order is granted by a Court and transfers parental
rights and responsibility from the birth parent/s to the adoptive
parent/s. This means you become the legal parent of the child
and they are no longer in care. It also means that you can be an
adoptive parent and an aunt, uncle or grandparent at the same
time.
Children should only remain in care for as long as they need to
and may leave the care system but continue to live with a
relative or friend under a different legal arrangement.
If you are considering the permanent placement for a child it’s
important you discuss all options with your supervising social
worker and that you fully understand the implications for you
and the benefits for the child.
SUMMARY & WHAT'S NEXT?
YOU'VE READ WHAT IT MEANS TO FOSTER A CHILD IN
CARE. READ ON FOR:
• HOW DO I BECOME A KINSHIP FOSTER CARER?
• HOW WILL LIFE CHANGE DAY-TO-DAY?
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME NOW I’M A KINSHIP FOSTER
CARER?
• WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT MONEY MATTERS?
• HOW CAN I LEARN AND DEVELOP AS A KINSHIP FOSTER
CARER?
• WHO SUPPORTS KINSHIP FOSTER CARERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES?
• WHERE DO I FIND OUT MORE?