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7.12 Contact with Parents

RELEVANT GUIDANCE

Children & Young Persons Act 2001

Guidance to the Children and Young Persons Act 2001, Volume C: Family Placements, Chapter 6: Contact

Fostering Service Minimum Standards, June 2007 (amended Oct 2013)

Outcome: The Fostering Service promotes and safeguards the child/young person’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing

Standard 10: Promoting contact

RELATED CHAPTER

11.2 - Social Visits and Overnight Stays with Friends

This chapter was added to the manual in May 2023.

Contents

Scope
Approving and Planning Contact
Supervised Contact
Cancellation of Contact
Planning and Arranging Contact with Foster Carers
Review of Contact Arrangements
Suspension or Termination of Contact

1. Scope

1.1	This chapter applies to arrangements for children placed in foster and residential care to have contact with their parents, siblings and those that are significant to them.
1.2	For arrangements for social visits and overnight stays away with friends which staff/carers may agree, see Social Visits and Overnight Stays with Friends Procedure.

2. Approving and Planning Contact

2.1	Looked After Children must be encouraged and supported to maintain contact with their parents, any person who holds Parental Responsibility, other significant family members and siblings in a manner consistent with the child’s Care Plan, which itself, must take account of any Child Protection Risk Action Plan or Contact Order that may be in force.
2.2	Contact between children and their parents or siblings, where there is a Care Order under Section 31 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2001, may only be permitted if previously agreed by the social worker and must be set out in the child’s Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority. Where children are subject to a Section 25 of said act parental agreement around contact is required.
2.3	The purpose of the contact and how it will be evaluated must be made clear in the Plan.
2.4	Both direct and indirect contact arrangements must always be clearly detailed, setting out how contact will take place, the venue, the frequency and how the arrangements will be reviewed and a risk assessment completed.
2.5	Before a Looked After child, whether Accommodated or the subject of a Care Order, has overnight contact with his or her parents or siblings, the approval of the Team Manager/Head of Statutory Social Work Services is required.
2.6	Where contact is extended as part of a plan to gradually return the child to their parents’ care, and the child is subject to an Interim Care or a Care Order, the Placement with Parents Procedure must be followed.

3. Supervised Contact

3.1	The need to supervise contact must be considered as part of the assessment and planning process by the social worker/team 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.
3.2	If contact is to be supervised by the foster carer(s), a written risk assessment must be completed beforehand, by the child’s social worker and supervising social worker. The risk assessment must then be shared/agreed with the foster carers, following quality assurance and authorisation by the Fostering Team Leader and the social work Team Manager.
3.3	Consideration can also be given to the Hub Home Carer, of the Mockingbird Constellation, as to whether or not it was appropriate for them to support the carer in undertaking this task.
3.4	This assessment must take account of all factors that could impact on the safety and success of supervised contact including: Any history of abuse or threats of abuse to the child, Carers or staff; Previous incidents of disruption or threats to disrupt contact or failure to cooperate with conditions agreed for supervised contact; Previous incidents or threats of abduction; Previous incidents of coercion or inappropriate behaviour during contact; The transient or unsettled lifestyle of the parents, as opposed to long-standing local connections; The child’s behaviour and needs, including medical needs; The impact, if any, upon another looked after child in placement (if contact sessions were to happen in the foster carer’s home.)
3.5	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 and shared with the contact supervisor.
3.6	Where supervised contact takes place, the detailed arrangements for the supervision must be set out in the Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority. In addition, there must be a written agreement with the parents and other parties having supervised contact, signed by them, which must state clearly any specific conditions relating to the contact and any expectations placed on the parents: The agreement must 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; It must also be clear about whether the person(s) having contact are permitted to give the child food, drinks, gifts or money during contact; It must state clearly the circumstances in which contact will be terminated.
3.7	In some cases prior contact with the Police must agree prearranged responses in the event of problems emerging: The agreement must state the adults who will be allowed to attend for supervised contact and supervisors must be asked to ensure the compliance of the agreement; Particular attention must be given to when and how visits are ended. It is probably best that all “goodbyes” take place indoors with the visitors asked to leave before supervisors return children to their placements; 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 must apply at any contacts arranged around these times.
3.8	The staff/carers and any other person involved in the supervision of the contact must have copies of the Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority. Where possible, those supervising the contact must be known to the child and the family before the supervised contact takes place.
3.9	In the event of problems emerging, the supervisors must be clear who to contact (including ‘reserve options’) and what details they will need to share.
3.10	The supervisor’s observations of the contact must be clearly recorded in the child’s record and shared with the parents.
3.11	The supervisor must immediately report to the social worker any concerns about the parents’ conduct during the contact. The social worker in consultation with his/her manager must consider the need to review the risk assessment and/or the contact arrangements in light of the concerns expressed. See Section 6, Review of Contact Arrangements. See Section 7, Suspension or Termination of Contact.

4. Cancellation of Contact

4.1	Contact must never be cancelled, unless there is a very good reason. For example, it is assessed that it would not be safe for it to take place or the child is too unwell for it to take place. Contact must take place in accordance with the child’s Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority, Court Order and any Court Directions.
4.2	Wherever possible, the staff/carer must consult the child’s social worker in advance if they consider there is a concern about a scheduled contact. If the child’s social worker is unavailable the staff/carer can access a duty social worker or Children and Families out of hours.
4.3	If contact is cancelled, the social worker or, if the social worker is not available, the duty worker will ensure the procedure is followed to that the child and as far as practicable, the parent is informed in advance and that the reason for the decision is explained. The social worker must arrange an alternative contact.
4.4	If contact does not take place and consultation has not been possible with the social worker, the child’s social worker must be informed as soon as possible and confirm in writing the decision to cancel and the reason.
4.5	Where a child is on an interim care order or where there is a specific contact order contact cannot be cancelled for more than 7 days without an application being put before the courts to any variation or termination of any contact arrangements.
4.6	Contact arrangements must not be withdrawn as a Sanction imposed on a child. See Section 7, Suspension or Termination of Contact.

5. Planning and Arranging Contact with Foster Carers

5.1	The Family Placement Service requires foster carers who actively promote contact between children and their families.
5.2	From matching to planning for a child the foster carer(s) should be fully involved in the process. Planning contact should be done in collaboration with: The child; The child’s family; Social Workers; Foster carers.
5.3	This should be done prior to the placement or within 72 hours of the placement being made. The contact plan will be incorporated into the Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority and is subject to regular review by the child’s social worker and his/her manager and at each Looked After Children’s Review.
5.4	The role of the foster carer should be carefully considered in the planning stages of contact, to keep continuity for the child wherever possible foster carers should facilitate contact arrangements, if it is appropriate to do so (see section 3). In working out these arrangements foster carers need to have: Clarity about their role and responsibility; Preparation training and support; Flexibility in contact arrangements; Strategies to manage risk; Understand through reflective discussions the meaning of the contact for the child.
5.5	In planning contact foster carers need to be clear about what is being asked of them. As part of ongoing training foster carers will be provided with appropriate training and support in relation to supporting and facilitating contact to ensure contact runs smoothly and produces the best outcome for the child.
5.6	Where siblings are placed with separate foster carers, foster carers will be supported to arrange regular contact between them. This could be visiting each other’s houses for tea or both households taking a trip to the park play days etc.
5.7	Foster carers can make the experience of sibling contact a natural experience however some children will need specialist intervention to have contact with their siblings. Sibling contact should always be fully assessed and a plan as to how this should be conducted be drawn up by the child’s social worker. Where necessary a risk assessment should be undertaken should it be perceived there is potential conflict.
5.8	A child, sufficient to their age and stage should be involved with planning their contact
5.9	A child will be supported by their social worker to make sense of what is in their best interests when contact is modified or compromised in order to meet their ongoing needs.
5.10	Foster carers should be fully informed about decisions regarding any changes in contact and the narrative that has been given to the child to help them support the child’s understanding. Under no circumstances should a child be given misinformation if contact arrangements are changed.
5.11	Contact between a child and their birth families can be complex and children can often get lost in this. If there is a concern that the child’s voice is not being heard the child, foster carer, child’s social worker and/or supervising social worker can contact the Children’s Rights Champion within Manx Care.
5.12	Foster carers will keep a record of the outcomes of contact arrangements and their perceived impact on the child. These records may identify patterns, which can contribute to future decision making.
5.13	Foster carers are required to keep a daily log for all children and young people, in their care. Information regards contact will be recorded in the log and passed to the supervising social worker during supervision. The supervising social worker will give the information to the child’s social worker and this will be recorded in the child’s electronic file.
5.14	If a child returns from contact and foster carers are concerned in any way about something that has been said or done, particularly if the child has been harmed in anyway, this must be reported to the child’s social worker or a duty social worker in their office immediately. If this occurs out of hours contact should be made with Children and Families out of hour’s service.
5.15	Any request for contact to take place in a foster home will need careful thinking as to whether this is a suitable venue for contact and should include a risk assessment and a wider impact assessment completed by the child’s social worker and signed by a team manager. The assessment should include: Does the parent or relative pose any risks; The child’s wishes; The views of the foster carer(s); Consideration regards other children in placement and foster carers own children i.e. confidentiality; their needs at the time of the contact; Consultation with social workers if they have children within the placement with regards to their views on proposed contact plans.
5.16	Foster carers through support and supervision will be supported by their supervising social worker as contact can cause distress and upset for a child and foster carers often have to deal with this when a child feels confused, angry or disappointed. The foster carer(s) may also have mixed emotions when this happens.

6. Review of Contact Arrangements

6.1	The Social Worker and his/her manager must keep contact arrangements, including the continuing need for supervision, under regular review.
6.2	The arrangements must also be reviewed in any Placement Planning Meeting, to include the Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority and at the child’s Review.
6.3	Any contact arrangements which are agreed as a result of new friendships formed during the child’s placement must be included in the Placement Agreement with Delegated Authority.
6.4	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.
6.5	Where the child is the subject of a Child Protection Risk Action Plan (this could occur if a child is removed under Police Protection or remanded into custody, whilst they are subject to a Child Protection Plan), the contact arrangements must also be reviewed as required in the plan itself.
6.6	Where a Contact Order is in force and it is considered that the contact arrangements set out in the Order must be altered, consultation with the child, sufficient to age and stage and the parents must be sought and legal advice must be obtained as to the need to seek a variation of the Court Order.

7. Suspension or Termination of Contact

7.1	Where it is considered that the child’s contact with the parents must be suspended or terminated, the social worker must be consulted and legal advice must be obtained.
7.2	Any proposal to suspend or terminate the contact must be considered as part of the child’s Review, unless the circumstances require an urgent decision to be made. Any such proposal must be made in the context of the overall aims and objectives of the child’s Care Plan.
7.3	Even where it is not possible to hold a 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 views obtained if possible.
7.4	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. See 4.5 Cancellation of contact if a child is subject to an Interim Care Order or a specific Contact Order.
7.5	The approval of a Group Manager within their role as chair of Permanence and Legal Panel must be obtained to any proposal to suspend, vary or terminate contact.
7.6	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 contact will always be necessary if contact is to be suspended for more than 7 days. A Team Manager can make the decision for up to 7 days thereafter Legal Services must be contacted as a matter of urgency so that the necessary Court action can be initiated.
7.7	Written confirmation of the decision made and, where relevant, the intended Court application, together with the reasons, must be sent to the parents, child (depending on age) and any other relevant person (for example the child's Advocate, or Children’s Guardian). Staff/carers and other agencies involved with the child’s care must also be informed.

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