Birth Family Contact in Fostering

The contact for the birth family, of child or young person in fostering, is an important area and should be supported. That is unless there is a reason for them not to have contact for safeguarding reasons or the overall well being for the child or young person.

The arrangements for birth family contact are focused on the best interests for the child or young person and are outlined in the child’s care plan. This will include the expected timings, how often and the overall aims. The contact arrangements will be discussed and covered at care planning meetings with the involvement of professionals including the Local Authority social worker and a social worker from Beacon Fostering.

Contact arrangements are important to consider at the matching stage for the fostering placements with foster carers. For example, where is the contact is to be held and what are the practical arrangements including travel. It could be that contact is through telephone call or video calls, or alternatively through face to face meetings.

Contact with the birth family is relevant to help with the following:

· Supporting with any future care planning and the child or young person returning to be with their birth parents;

· To promote the well being for the child or young person, as having regular contact is likely to help them feel more secure and supported;

· To help maintain the child or young person’s identity, their personal history and background; and

· Meeting and ensuring compliance with the child’s care plan and legal requirements.

Beacon Fostering provides training relating to birth family arrangements and it also a topic covered at fostering support groups. It can be difficult area because the child or young person is likely to show emotions before or after contact, so it is about talking this through and being prepared.

When we receive a referral for each child or young person, the contact arrangements will also be discussed together with our foster carers and the placing Local Authority.

If you have questions on birth family contact arrangements relating to becoming a foster carer, please do contact us as we can cover all your questions.