Ending a Placement

Usually when you have a child/young person placed with you it may end when:

• The child returns to their family;
• The child is moved to another placement;
• The young person is old enough to live independently;
• The placement breaks down;
• The child/young person is adopted - either by another family or possibly you;
• The child remains with you under a Child Arrangements Order or Special Guardianship Order or under a supported lodging arrangement.

The decision to end a placement is usually taken at a Looked After Review, it should be in the child's best interest. The child should be helped to understand why they are leaving and should be supported to settle into their new placement or to go back to their birth parents or the transition to independent living.

You may feel anxious about the child/young person's move, 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. If you feel like this it is really important that you talk to your Supervising Social Worker about this, especially if you think that the move is not in the child's best interests.

The Looked After and Adopted Children's Therapeutic Support Team have produced a leaflet entitled “A Guide to Transitions” which provides guidance to you on moving a child into an adoptive placement. However the guidance is equally applicable to preparing and supporting any child through a transition. If you have any problems with accessing this guide through the handbook, please ask your Supervising Social Worker for a copy.

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 explaining to the child/young person why they are moving and what will happen.

You should put together any relevant information about the child/young person's daily routine, likes/dislikes and any other important information which will help the new carer, birth parents or prospective adopters.

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

If the child or young person has photographs and other information about their time with you, you should make sure that they take these with them.

At the end of each placement, all the following should be returned to the child's Social Worker:

• L.A.C. documents;
• Medical card;
• Parents' consent to medical treatment;
• Health record card (under 5);
• Court Order copies;
• Appointment cards;
• School reports;
• Final medical report, if applicable;
• A complete list of the child's belongings, including money, passport, photographs, etc.;
• Any equipment should be collected after the child has left.

You may wish to keep in touch with a child you have fostered. You should speak to your Supervising Social Worker; this should be consistent with their Care Plan. If informal arrangements cannot be agreed, you may be able to apply for a court order.

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.