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282 <h2>
282 Contact with Parents/Adults and Siblings
282 </h2>
284 </div>
287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This chapter applies to arrangements for children placed in foster and residential care who have
contact with their parents, anyone with Parental Responsibility who is not a parent, siblings, any
relative, friend or other person connected with the child.
289 </p>
290 <p>
290 For arrangements for social visits and overnight stays away with friends which staff/carers may
agree, see
290 <a href="p_overnight_stays.html">
290 Overnight Stays and Social Visits Procedure
290 </a>
290 .
290 </p>
291 <p>
291 For guidance regarding frequency of contact within the context of permanence, see
291 <a href="g_perm_plan.html">
291 Permanence Planning Guidance
291 </a>
291 .
291 </p>
292 <p>
292 <span class="bold">
292 NOTE
292 </span>
292 : The responsible authority should review this policy (in particular the issue of sibling contact)
with their local Children in Care Council and other Looked After Children.
292 </p>
293 <h3>
293 RELATED CHAPTER
293 </h3>
294 <p>
294 <a href="p_dec_look_aft.html">
294 Decision to Look After and Care Planning
294 </a>
294 </p>
295 <h3>
295 RELATED GUIDANCE
295 </h3>
296 <p>
296 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Children_Ac
t_Guidance_2015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
296 The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case
Review (2015)
296 </a>
296 </p>
297 <p>
297 <a href="https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
297 GOV.UK Child car seats: the law
297 </a>
297 </p>
298 <h3>
298 AMENDMENT
298 </h3>
299 <p>
299 <a href="#diff_types_of_contact">
299 Section 2, Different Types of Contact
299 </a>
299 was updated in October 2018 to take account of the use of mobile communication with regards to
contact.
299 </p>
300 </div>
301 <div id="sections">
303 <h3 id="sections_list">
303 Contents
303 </h3>
304 <ol>
305 <li>
305 <a href="#approving">
305 Approving and Planning Contact
305 </a>
305 </li>
306 <li>
306 <a href="#diff_types_of_contact">
306 Different Types of Contact
306 </a>
306 </li>
307 <li>
307 <a href="#supervised">
307 Supervised Contact
307 </a>
307 </li>
308 <li>
308 <a href="#review">
308 Review of Contact Arrangements
308 </a>
308 </li>
309 <li>
309 <a href="#cancellation">
309 Cancellation, Suspension or Termination of Contact
309 </a>
309 </li>
310 </ol>
311 <h3 id="approving">
311 1. Approving and Planning Contact
311 </h3>
312 <p>
312 The responsible authority has a duty to endeavour to promote contact between the child and
parents, siblings, anyone with Parental Responsibility who is not a parent, any relative, friend
or other person connected with the child unless it is not reasonably practicable or consistent
with the child's welfare. The assessment and discussions with the child will identify those people
for whom it is important to maintain contact. This may include those (including a parent) with
whom contact has been lost and consideration should be given as to how this could be
re-established.
312 </p>
313 <p>
313 This should be in a manner consistent with the child's Care Plan; which, itself, must take account
of any Child Protection Plan or Contact Order that may be in force. There is a presumption of
continued contact between the child and their family while the child is Looked After, unless it is
not reasonably practicable or consistent with the child's welfare.
313 </p>
314 <p>
314 Contact between children and their parents, siblings or relevant others may only be permitted if
previously agreed by the social worker and should be set out in the child's Placement Plan.
314 </p>
315 <p>
315 The purpose of the contact and how it will be evaluated must be made clear in the
Plan. Contact arrangements should be focused on, and shaped around, the child's needs. The
child's welfare is the paramount consideration at all times and each child's wishes and needs for
contact should be individually considered and regularly assessed and reviewed. The wishes and
feelings of the child should be ascertained, wherever possible, using advocacy and communication
services if necessary. For many children, relationships with family members, previous carers,
friends and others are valued. Contact can be very important in helping children develop their
sense of identity and understand their lives.
315 </p>
316 <p>
316 So far as it is reasonably practicable, the wishes and feelings of the parents and the child's
carers must be ascertained before a decision about contact arrangements is made.
316 </p>
317 <p>
317 Both direct and indirect contact arrangements should always be clearly detailed, setting out how
contact will take place, the venue, the frequency and how the arrangements will be reviewed. The
use of mobile communication should also be considered.
317 </p>
318 <p>
318 Where contact is extended as part of a plan to gradually return the child to the parents' care,
the
318 <a href="p_place_with_parents.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
318 Placements with Parents Procedure
318 </a>
318 should be followed.
318 </p>
319 <p>
319 For foster carers providing short breaks, the foster carer must maintain contact as agreed in the
Short Break Plan.
319 </p>
320 <p>
320 Maintaining contact with siblings from both the same or different parents is reported by children
to be one of their highest priorities (
320 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Children_Ac
t_Guidance_2015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
320 The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case
Review
320 </a>
320 ). It is not always possible or appropriate to place sibling groups together. Where siblings
cannot be placed together it requires the active involvement of all parties to facilitate contact
between them.
320 </p>
321 <p>
321 Independent Reviewing Officers should ensure that Looked After Reviews consider whether contact
arrangements including sibling contact in Care Plans has been implemented and that the child is
happy with the contact both its frequency and its quality. The IRO should inform the child that
they can access Advocacy Services if they have a complaint.
321 </p>
322 <h3 id="diff_types_of_contact">
322 2. Different Types of Contact
322 </h3>
323 <p>
323 Face to face meetings and visits will generally be the best way of maintaining relationships, but
other means such as letters, mobile communication, photograph exchanges etc. should also be a
consideration. Responsible authorities and carers should work together to explore how electronic
media can support positive relationships for children. Children should be supported to ensure they
are safe online rather than this form of contact being avoided. It may be useful to encourage
young people to share details of how they communicate with others (this may include mobile phones
or other social networking sites and apps and consoles such as Xbox or PlayStation) and an
agreement reached between the young person, social worker and foster carer about how safely to do
this.
323 </p>
324 <h3 id="supervised">
324 3. Supervised Contact
324 </h3>
325 <p>
325 The need to supervise contact should be considered as part of the assessment and planning process
by the social worker and his/her Manager. It is the responsibility of the child's social worker to
ensure that the person(s) supervising contact is appropriately skilled and experienced to do so.
325 </p>
326 <p>
326 The primary focus of the assessment of this issue will be the safety and welfare of the child.
326 </p>
327 <p>
327 Where supervised contact is deemed necessary, the reasons should be clearly recorded and the role
of the supervisor or supervisors clearly defined.
327 </p>
328 <p>
328 A written risk assessment must be completed before supervised contacts begin.
328 </p>
329 <p>
329 This assessment must take account of all factors that could impact on the success of supervised
contact and relevant safeguards including:
329 </p>
330 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
331 <li>
331 Any history of abuse or threats of abuse to the child, carers, staff or others;
331 </li>
332 <li>
332 Previous threats to disrupt contact or failure to cooperate with conditions agreed for
supervised contact;
332 </li>
333 <li>
333 Previous incidents or threats of abduction;
333 </li>
334 <li>
334 Previous incidents of coercion or inappropriate behaviour during contact;
334 </li>
335 <li>
335 The transient or unsettled lifestyle of the parents;
335 </li>
336 <li>
336 The child's behaviour and needs, including medical needs.
336 </li>
337 </ol>
338 <p>
338 Where any of the above features in the risk assessment, and supervised contact is to continue, the
risk assessment must state the specific measures to be put in place to minimise risks. The
assessment must then be approved and signed by the social worker's Team Manager.
338 </p>
339 <p>
339 Where supervised contact takes place, the detailed arrangements for the supervision must be set
out in the Placement Plan.
339 </p>
340 In addition, there should be a written agreement with the parents and other relevant parties having
supervised contact, signed by them, which should state clearly any specific conditions relating to
the contact and any expectations placed on the parents or relevant parties:
341 <ul>
342 <li>
342 The agreement should be clear about where the contact must take place and whether any
flexibility is allowed for activity or movements within or away from the agreed location;
342 </li>
343 <li>
343 It should also be clear about whether the person(s) having contact are permitted to give the
child food, drinks, gifts or money during contact;
343 </li>
344 <li>
344 It should state clearly the circumstances in which contact will be terminated.
344 </li>
345 </ul>
346 <p>
346 The agreement should state the adults who will be allowed to attend for supervised contact and
supervisors should be asked to apply that strictly.
346 </p>
347 <p>
347 Particular attention should be given to when and how visits are ended. It may be more appropriate
that all 'goodbyes' take place indoors with the visitors asked to leave before supervisors return
children to their placements or carers.
347 </p>
348 <p>
348 Significant changes to Care Plans, court proceedings and/or decisions made about the frequency of
future contact are all likely to be potential tension points so extra vigilance should apply at
any contacts arranged around these times.
348 </p>
349 <p>
349 The staff/carers and any other person involved in the supervision of the contact should have
copies of the Placement Plan and the agreement with the parents or relevant adults.
349 </p>
350 <p>
350 Where possible, those supervising the contact should be known to the child and the family before
the supervised contact takes place
350 </p>
351 <p>
351 In the event of problems emerging, the supervisors must be clear who to contact and what details
they will need to share.
351 </p>
352 <p>
352 The supervisor's observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child's record and
shared with the parents.
352 </p>
353 <p>
353 The supervisor must immediately report to the social worker any concerns about the child or
parents conduct during the contact. The social worker in consultation with his/her Manager should
consider the need to review the risk assessment and/or the contact arrangements in light of the
concerns expressed.
353 </p>
354 <p>
354 See
354 <a href="#review">
354 Section 4, Review of Contact Arrangements
354 </a>
354 .
354 </p>
355 <h3 id="review">
355 4. Review of Contact Arrangements
355 </h3>
356 <p>
356 The social worker and his/her Manager should keep contact arrangements, including the continuing
need for supervision, under regular review.
356 </p>
357 <p>
357 The risk assessment in relation to the arrangements for supervising contact must be reviewed at
least every six months, or sooner if any incident or report identifies concerns.
357 </p>
358 <p>
358 Where the child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan, the contact arrangements should also be
reviewed as required in the Child Protection Plan.
358 </p>
359 <p>
359 Any significant reactions that the child has to contact should be reported to the child's social
worker by those observing contact arrangements, for example foster carers, residential staff
and/or supervisors of contact.
359 </p>
360 <p>
360 The contact arrangements should also be reviewed in any Placement Planning Meeting and at the
child's Looked After Review.
360 </p>
361 Where a Contact Order is in force and it is considered that the contact arrangements set out in the
Order should be altered, the agreement of the child and the parents should be sought and legal
advice should be obtained as to the need to seek a variation of the Court Order.
362 <h3 id="cancellation">
362 5. Cancellation, Suspension or Termination of Contact
362 </h3>
363 <p>
363 Contact should never be cancelled unless there is a very good reason, e.g. it is deemed that it
would not be safe for it to take place or the child / adult / sibling attending is too unwell for
it to take place. Contact should take place in accordance with the child's Placement Plan, Court
Order and any Court Directions.
363 </p>
364 <p>
364 Wherever possible, the staff/carer should consult the child's social worker in advance if they
consider there is a good reason to cancel the contact.
364 </p>
365 <p>
365 If contact is cancelled, the social worker or, if the social worker is not available, the
staff/carer must ensure that the child and, as far as practicable, the parent or relevant adult is
informed in advance and that the reason for the decision is explained. The social worker or
staff/carer should arrange an alternative contact.
365 </p>
366 <p>
366 If contact does not take place and consultation has not been possible with the social worker, the
staff/carer must inform the child's social worker as soon as possible and confirm in writing the
decision to cancel and the reason.
366 </p>
367 <p>
367 <span class="bold">
367 N.B.
367 </span>
367 Contact arrangements must not be withdrawn as a sanction imposed on a child.
367 </p>
368 <p>
368 Emergency restrictions on contact can only be made to protect the child from significant risk and
must be notified to the Placing Authority (child's social worker) within 24 hours.
368 </p>
369 <h4>
369 5.1 Suspending or Terminating Contact
369 </h4>
370 <p>
370 Any proposal to suspend or terminate the contact should be considered as part of the child's
Looked After Review, unless the circumstances require an urgent decision to be made, in which case
the social worker must be consulted and legal advice should be obtained.
370 </p>
371 <p>
371 Any such proposal should be made in the context of the overall aims and objectives of the Care
Plan.
371 </p>
372 <p>
372 Even where it is not possible to hold a Looked After Review because of the urgency of the
situation, the reasons for the proposal must be explained to the parents and to the child, and
their agreement obtained if possible.
372 </p>
373 <p>
373 Where the proposal is to suspend the contact, the length and purpose of the suspension together
with the basis upon which contact will be reinstated must be made clear.
373 </p>
374 <p>
374 Where the child is the subject of an Emergency Protection Order, Interim Care Order or full Care
Order, an application to the Court for authority to terminate the contact will always be necessary
if contact is to be suspended for more than 7 days. As soon as such a decision is made, Legal
Services should be contacted as a matter of urgency so that the necessary court action can be
initiated.
374 </p>
375 Written confirmation of the decision made and, where relevant, the intended court application,
together with the reasons, must be sent to the parents/relevant parties, child (depending on age)
and any other relevant person (for example the child's advocate, an Independent Visitor or
Children's Guardian). Staff/carers and other agencies involved with the child's care must also be
informed.
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