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136 <h1>
136 Early Permanence Placements / Fostering for Adoption
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 RELATED GUIDANCE
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Child
ren_Act_Guidance_2015.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
144 The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and
Case Review
144 </a>
144 </p>
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href="http://www.coram.org.uk/sites/default/files/resource_files/46%20Fostering%20for%20Adopti
on%20Guidance_2013.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
145 Fostering For Adoption: Practice Guidance (CoramBAAF)
145 </a>
145 </div>
152 <div class="section">
152 <h2 id="intro">
152 1. Introduction
152 </h2>
153 <p>
153 This procedure deals with placement of a child with carers who are dually approved, i.e.
approved both as prospective adopters and as local authority foster carers.
153 </p>
154 <p>
154 The advantage of this type of placement is that the child will be placed with foster carers
who, subject to a Placement Order being made, or parental consent, are expected to go on to
become the child's adoptive family. The child therefore benefits from an early placement
with their eventual permanent carers. Delay in finding a permanent family for young children
who have already experienced neglect early on in their lives may have a profoundly damaging
effect on their development. This type of placement has potential to reduce this delay and
the damage caused significantly and as a result:
154 </p>
155 <ul>
156 <li>
156 The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 were amended (in
2013) to allow approved prospective adopters to be given temporary approval as foster
carers for a named child.
156 </li>
157 </ul>
158 <p>
158 There is a duty upon local authorities to consider a placement with dually approved carers
whenever it is considering adoption or where the decision has been made that the child ought
to be placed for adoption, but where the agency does not yet have authority to place the
child for adoption through either a placement order or parental consent. (section 22C(9B)
Children Act 1989 (as amended by the Children and Families Act 2014).
158 </p>
159 <p>
159 These placements are foster placements. This placement will only become an adoptive
placement if:
159 </p>
160 <ol>
161 <li>
161 The Agency Decision Maker (ADM) has decided that the child should be placed for adoption;
and
161 </li>
162 <li>
162 Either a Placement Order has been made; or
162 </li>
163 <li>
163 Parental consent to the child's adoption is given.
163 </li>
164 </ol>
165 <p>
165 It is possible that such a placement may not lead to adoption, for example because the
child's plan changes where rehabilitation with the birth family is successful, because
suitable family or friends come forward or because the court does not agree to make a
Placement Order. This may mean that the child returns home or is moved to another permanence
arrangement. But, for the vast majority of children in such placements, progression towards
adoption will be the anticipated outcome.
165 </p>
166 <p>
166 Local authorities will need to ensure that people who are willing to care for a child in
this way are fully aware that the placement may not lead to adoption, and that they have
been given appropriate information and training so that they understand their role and legal
responsibilities as foster carers and ongoing support once the placement has been made.
166 </p>
167 <p>
167 Concurrent planning is an established practice for placing children with dually approved
carers. As these placements are foster placements, rather than placements for adoption, they
could be made under existing legislation. The law has, however, developed to make the
situation more explicit.
167 </p>
168 </div>
169 <div class="section1">
169 </div>
175 <div class="section">
175 <h2 id="examples">
175 2. Examples of Situations Where Placements with Dually-Approved Carers may be Appropriate
175 </h2>
176 <ul>
177 <li>
177 Where parents have had one or more child/ren previously placed for adoption or other forms
of permanent placement and the evidence strongly suggests that their circumstances have
not changed and they pose the same risks as they did to the previous child/ren;
177 </li>
178 <li>
178 The local authority does not have a proactive plan to rehabilitate the child as the
circumstances of the parents are such to pose a serious on-going risk;
178 </li>
179 <li>
179 Where this is the first child, the circumstances of the parents and the risks to the child
are such that there is no proactive plan to return the child to the birth parents or to
other family members;
179 </li>
180 <li>
180 Where parents have indicated that they may want their child adopted, but have not formally
consented.
180 </li>
181 </ul>
182 <p>
182 The local authority should not consider such a placement where the child is Accommodated
under section 20 Children Act 1989 and there is a reasonable likelihood that the child will
be able to return to their birth parents or to family or friends.
182 </p>
183 </div>
184 <div class="section1">
184 </div>
190 <div class="section">
190 <h2 id="concurrent_planning">
190 3. Concurrent Planning
190 </h2>
191 <p>
191 Concurrent planning is usually used in cases where rehabilitation with the birth family is
still being attempted, but it is expected that adoption will become the plan for the child
should the rehabilitation not be successful.
191 </p>
192 <p>
192 Concurrent planning requires the identification and delivery of a detailed rehabilitation
plan while the child is placed with carers who are approved for both fostering and adoption
who support that plan. If the rehabilitation plan proves to be unsuccessful, the foster
carers can go on to adopt the child once Care Proceedings and the Placement Order
application are completed.
192 </p>
193 <p>
193 It involves placing a Child in Care with approved foster carers who, as well as providing
temporary care for the child, bring them to regular supervised contact sessions with their
parents and other relatives. In addition, the carer may spend time with the parents at both
ends of contact sessions to update them on the child's progress. This enables a relationship
to develop which is supportive to the parents. The agency provides focussed support via a
contact supervisor whose role is to advise the parents to help them to change their
lifestyle and improve their parenting skills with the aim of enabling their child to return
home to them. If this is the outcome, the child will have maintained contact with their
parents and have sustained their attachment because of the regular contact visits. But the
carers are also approved as adopters so that if the parents' rehabilitation plan is not
successful, the child may be placed with the carers for adoption, ensuring a continuity of
attachment.
193 </p>
194 </div>
195 <div class="section1">
195 </div>
201 <div class="section">
201 <h2 id="foster_adopt">
201 4. Fostering for Adoption
201 </h2>
202 <h3 id="duty">
202 4.1 Duty to Consider Fostering for Adoption Placement
202 </h3>
203 <p>
203 Under section 22C (9A and 9B) of the Children Act 1989 [as amended by the Children and
Families Act 2014], where the local authority is considering adoption for a child (see
203 <a href="#consider_adopt_for_child">
203 Section 4.2, Considering Adoption for a Child
203 </a>
203 ) or is satisfied that the child ought to be placed for adoption but is not yet authorised
(either by consent or by Placement Order) to place the child for adoption, the authority
203 <span class="bold">
203 MUST
203 </span>
203 consider placing the child with a relative, friend or other Connected Person who is also a
local authority foster carer or, where they decide that such a placement is not the most
appropriate placement, then they must consider placing the child with a local authority
foster carer who has been approved as a prospective adopter.
203 </p>
204 <p>
204 Where a child is placed in a fostering for adoption placement, the relationship which the
child has with the person who is a prospective adopter must be considered by the Court or
Adoption Agency alongside other relevant relationships the child has with their relatives or
other persons.
204 <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2017/16/section/9" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
204 (See s.9 Children and Social Work Act 2017 amending s.1(f) Adoption and Children Act 2002
204 </a>
204 .)
204 </p>
205 <p>
205 In such a situation, the requirements under the section 22 of the Children Act 1989 to
ensure that placements allow the child to live near the parents' home, be placed within the
local authority area, remain at the same school and to be placed together with sibling(s),
do not apply.
205 </p>
206 <p>
206 (The carers may be dually approved by being fully approved adopters and foster carers for
any child, or they might be approved prospective adopters who have been temporarily approved
as foster carers for a named child under regulation 25A of the Care Planning, Placement and
Case Review (England) Regulations 2010 – see
206 <a href="#temp_approval">
206 Section 5, Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters
206 </a>
206 .)
206 </p>
207 <p>
207 Such a placement must be approved by the
207 <a href="pr_desg_man.html#nom_off_foster_adopt">
207 Nominated Officer
207 </a>
207 who must:
207 </p>
208 <ul>
209 <li>
209 Be satisfied that:
210 <ul>
211 <li>
211 The placement is the most appropriate placement available for the child and will
safeguard and promote their welfare; and
211 </li>
212 <li>
212 The child's wishes and feelings have been ascertained and given due consideration, and
the IRO has been informed; and
212 </li>
213 </ul>
214 </li>
215 <li>
215 If their whereabouts are known, notify the child's parent(s)/guardian of the proposed
placement.
215 </li>
216 </ul>
217 <p>
217 (It is expected that the Nominated Officer will be a social worker with a good understanding
of care planning, including adoption and fostering. It could be the adoption Agency Decision
Maker.)
217 </p>
218 <h3 id="consider_adopt_for_child">
218 4.2 Considering Adoption for a Child
218 </h3>
219 <p>
219 Examples of when a local authority may be considering adoption include:
219 </p>
220 <ul>
221 <li>
221 Where the local authority is trying to rehabilitate the child with the birth parents,
there are no suitable family or friends carers and adoption is the best option for the
child if rehabilitation does not succeed;
221 </li>
222 <li>
222 Where the local authority has decided at the permanence planning stage that adoption
should be the plan for the child. The local authority must be able to demonstrate to the
ADM and the court why the child cannot return home, why the child has not been placed with
family or friends, why no other permanence plan is appropriate for the child and why
adoption is the right plan for the child;
222 </li>
223 <li>
223 In cases where the birth parents have indicated that they are likely to consent to the
child being placed for adoption, but have not yet consented;
223 </li>
224 <li>
224 A Fostering for Adoption placement can also be made after the ADM has made the decision
that the child should be placed for adoption, but does not yet have authority to place the
child for adoption.
224 </li>
225 </ul>
226 <p>
226 Examples of where a local authority will
226 <span class="bold">
226 not
226 </span>
226 be considering adoption include:
226 </p>
227 <ul>
228 <li>
228 The child is likely to return home;
228 </li>
229 <li>
229 They are aware that there are family or friends who can care for the child;
229 </li>
230 <li>
230 A permanence placement other than adoption is more appropriate for the child.
230 </li>
231 </ul>
232 <p>
232 If, at any point during the planning of a Fostering for Adoption placement or if the child
is already in such a placement, there is any change to the circumstances of prospective
carers, including relatives, a planning meeting with the Fostering for Adoption carers and
all professionals involved should take place to consider the new information at the earliest
opportunity, so that the carers can make an informed choice about their position. Similarly,
this also allows the local authority to consider their position in light of the change in
circumstances.
232 </p>
233 <h3>
233 4.3 Notifications
233 </h3>
234 <p>
234 Where a decision is made to place a child in a Fostering for Adoption placement, the
adoption agency must:
234 </p>
235 <ul>
236 <li>
236 Notify the prospective adopter in writing;
236 </li>
237 <li>
237 Explain the decision to the child in an appropriate manner, having regard to the
child's age and understanding;
237 </li>
238 <li>
238 Explain to the birth parents (which includes fathers without Parental Responsibility) /
guardian the legal implications.
238 </li>
239 </ul>
240 <p>
240 On those occasions where the child is voluntarily Accommodated under section 20 of the
Children Act, the notification should remind the birth parents of their right to remove the
child from the local authority's care and should provide advice on access to legal advice
and appropriate advisory bodies. At this point, the Local Authority may wish to consider
commencing care proceedings.
240 </p>
241 <p>
241 The parents should be informed that the local authority cannot pre-judge the outcome of Care
Proceedings and only the court can authorise placement for adoption if the parents do not
consent to their child being placed for adoption.
241 </p>
242 </div>
243 <div class="section1">
243 </div>
249 <div class="section">
249 <h2 id="temp_approval">
249 5. Temporary Approval as Foster Carers of Approved Prospective Adopters
249 </h2>
250 <p>
250 Approved prospective adopters can be given temporary approval as foster carers under 25A of
the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010. This temporary
foster carer approval process can be carried out at the same time as the adopter approval
process.
250 </p>
251 <p>
251 This temporary approval can be given for a
251 <span class="bold">
251 named
251 </span>
251 Child in Care, where the local authority consider that this is in the child's best
interests.
251 </p>
252 <p>
252 Before giving such approval, the responsible authority must:
252 </p>
253 <ul>
254 <li>
254 Assess the suitability of that person to care for the child as a foster carer; and
254 </li>
255 <li>
255 Consider whether, in all the circumstances and taking into account the services to be
provided by the responsible authority, the proposed arrangements will safeguard and
promote the child's welfare and meet the child's needs as set out in the Care Plan.
255 </li>
256 </ul>
257 <p>
257 The temporary approval period expires when:
257 </p>
258 <ul>
259 <li>
259 The placement is terminated by the local authority;
259 </li>
260 <li>
260 The approval as a prospective adopter is terminated;
260 </li>
261 <li>
261 The prospective adopter is approved as a foster carer;
261 </li>
262 <li>
262 The prospective adopter gives 28 days' written notice that they no longer wish to be
temporarily approved as a foster parent in relation to the child; or
262 </li>
263 <li>
263 The child is placed for adoption with the prospective adopter in accordance with the
Adoption and Children Act 2002.
263 </li>
264 </ul>
265 </div>
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