PERMANENCE POLICY
REVISION
CATHY GILMORE-GRIFFITHS
PLANNING AND POLICY GROUP
JULY 2002
REVISION: IAN GOODFELLOW
PRINCIPAL PLANNING POLICY AND PROJECTS OFFICER
AUGUST 2004
Permanence Policy
Policy
It will be in the best interests of most children to live with their parent(s) throughout their childhood.
Where this will not meet the child's needs for safety and stability, appropriate placements with
relatives or friends will always be looked for.
Where a child needs to be Looked After, they will have a Permanence Plan agreed at the second
Statutory Review. The Permanence Plan will be presented within the LAC system Care Plan.
Contents
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Page
Introduction and Scope
Defining Permanence
Achieving Gloucestershire's Child Care Strategy
Key Objectives
Options for Permanence
Key Aspects
Staying at home
Kinship care
Role of short-term foster placements
Residence Orders
Adoption
Long-term Fostering
Residential Placement
Permanence and local placement
Mandatory Procedures
Assessing Permanence Needs
Documenting the Permanence Plan
Content of the Permanence Plan
Permanence and Contingency Planning
Permanence and the Review Process
Practice Standards and Responsibilities
Table, including Practitioner and Service-User led principles
How will we know that standards are being met?
Team Managers
Reviewing Officer
Standards 2002
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
8
9
9
9
9
Good Practice Guidance
Supporting rehabilitation to family
Identifying the best permanence option
Siblings
Guarding against drift
Clearly communicating the permanence plan
Supporting stability within foster/adoptive families
10
10
11
11
12
13
Appendices
Permanence Options; Checklist of Considerations
Learning from the Twin Tracking and Concurrent Planning
models
Useful further reading
14
15
16
1
1
Introduction and Scope
1.1
Defining Permanence
"Permanence is a framework of emotional, physical and legal conditions that gives a child a sense
of security, continuity, commitment and identity"
Adoption: Practice Guidance to Support the National Adoption Standards for England
1.1.2
“All studies of children who are unable to be brought up by their natural parents strongly support
the view that two essential elements in enhancing their well being are a sense of continuity and
belonging to a family to which the child feels him or herself to be fully attached (usually referred to
as a sense of permanence) – and a sense of identity which is best achieved by continual contact
with important people from the past, especially members of the birth family”
(Thoburn J, Panel News 7:4 p10, 1994)
1.1.3
The context for this policy includes a) National Adoption Standards for England (DoH) and
b) existing policy on the use of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and
their Families (DoH) and the Looking After Children materials (DoH).
1.1.4
Research strongly suggests that the placement choice of most children and young people
is with their family and that this type of care is likely to be more successful (see
Appendix Three).
1.1.5
In the traditional, sequential model, permanence planning is placed at the end of a long
process, after a child in need has become looked after. This policy draws on models that
place the question "how are the child's permanence needs being met" at the core of
everything we do.
1.2
Achieving Gloucestershire's Child Care Strategy
This Policy is informed by the strategic framework for Children's services in
Gloucestershire, as presented in the Children's Services Strategic Plan February 2002. It
therefore is written within the context of
 Principles and values included in the Children Act 1989 and the Adoption Act 1976
 Central government initiatives for child care and social care e.g. Quality Protects, Best
Value and Modernising Local Government
 Priorities and objectives for Gloucestershire County Council.
1.2.2
This policy is closely linked to the Department's policies on Family and Friends Care and
Residence Orders, Assessment, Looked After Children, Leaving Care and Adoption and
Fostering.
2
2
Key Objectives
2.1
"The objective of planning for permanence is to ensure that children have a secure, stable and
loving family to support them through childhood and beyond"
Adoption: Draft Practice Guidance to Support the National Adoption Standards for England
2.2
Permanence planning is a key factor in meeting objectives presented within the
Department's Child Care Strategy;
 Children are protected/safeguarded from harm.
 Families are supported in remaining together .
 Where it is necessary for a child/young person to leave their family,
a) this is for as short a time as needed to secure a safe supported return home or,
b) if they cannot return home, plans are made for permanent substitute alternative
care with birth family members or wider family members for preference, and
where this is not in the child's best interests, with adoptive parents. The child's need
for permanence might also be met by long-term fostering in some cases.
c) Residential group living is provided only when a need for this is identified within
the care plan and when substitute family care is not appropriate.
 Where it is clear that families and children are unable to live together, planning
will be swift and clear to identify permanent substitute settings.
 Wherever possible, care is provided locally unless clearly identified as
inappropriate.
 Contact with the family and extended family will be facilitated and built on
(unless clearly identified as inappropriate).
 If care placements are needed that do not meet the above objectives, they will be
for as short a duration as possible.
 The Department will work in partnership with parents/families to meet the above
objectives.
2.3
All the above objectives are underpinned by the Quality Protects eleven objectives.
2.4
When undertaking permanence planning, all workers have a duty, under the Race
Relations Act 2000, to promote race equality by
 Eliminating unlawful racial discrimination
 Promoting equality of opportunity and
 Promoting good relations between persons of different racial groups.
3
Practice promoting race equality according to the child/young person's assessed needs
must therefore be evidenced within the Permanence Plan.
3
3.1
Options for Permanence
Permanence for children has three particular aspects;
1) legal permanence (staying with birth parents who have parental responsibility,
adoption, or court orders such as a Residence Order),
2) psychological permanence (when the child feels attached to an adult who provides a
stable, loving and secure relationship, for example through Family and Friends care)
3) physical or environmental permanence (involves a stable home environment within a
familiar neighbourhood and community which meets the child's identity needs).
3.2
Staying at home
The first stage within permanence planning is work with children in need and their
families to support them staying together. Staying at home offers the best chance of
stability. Research shows that family preservation has a higher success rate than
reunification. This of course has to balanced against the risk of harm to the child.
3.3
Family and Friends Care
If the assessment concludes that the child cannot safely remain at home at this time,
every effort must be made to secure placement with relatives or friends. This will be
either as part of the plan working towards a return home or - if a return home is clearly
not in the child’s best interests – as the preferred permanence option. It is very important
to establish at an early stage what relatives or friends might be available to care for the
child, to avoid the kind of delays that can happen during Court proceedings where this
work has not been done.
3.3.2
Serious consideration must always be given to holding a Family Group Conference as
being the best way to explore potential family and friends placements (see the Family
and Friends Care and Residence Order Policy).
3.4
The Role of Short-term Foster Placement
The plan might involve the child being looked after while work continues towards their
return home. If so, the plan must be formulated in accordance with the “Contested
Adoptions” section of the Adoption Manual (September 2003), and will include twintracking arrangements.. This is to make sure that all concerned are clear about the
importance of avoiding drift and the consequent threat to the child's experience of
stability.
3.5
Residence Orders
Of the permanence options, only a return home to birth parents or adoption provide legal
4
permanence. However, a Residence Order may be used to increase the degree of legal
permanence in a Family/Friends or a Long-term Fostering placement, where this would
be in the child’s best interest (see the Family and Friends Care and Residence Order
policy).
3.6
Adoption
Research strongly supports adoption for children, especially if under four years, as a
main factor contributing to stability. Gloucestershire’s policy is that for every child who
cannot be rehabilitated to birth or extended family, adoption must be a primary
consideration. It must be remembered that
“all children whose birth family cannot provide them with a secure, stable and permanent home
are entitled to have adoption considered for them”
(National Adoption Standards for England (DoH))
3.6.2
As one of the developing responses to the National Adoption Standards, Gloucestershire
Social Services policy is that all families adopting children have the right to an
assessment for post-placement support.
3.7
Long Term Fostering
The policy of the department is that all long-term carers will be encouraged and
supported to seek Residence Orders to legally secure the permanent arrangements. The
principles and processes supporting this are set out in the Family and Friends Policies
and Residence Orders Policies and Procedures.
3.8
Residential Placement
Most children and young people need a family setting as their permanent home. If it has
been decided that their stability needs will best be met in a residential setting, the reasons
for this must be very clearly identified within the Permanence Plan.
3.9
3.9.1
Permanence and local placement
Where the Permanence Plan involves a long term placement, it is important that the child
or young person has access to the friends, family or community within which they were
brought up and which forms part of their identity and their long term support network.
Research (Children Act Report 2001) suggests that children do better if placed within the
Local Authority from which they come. For these reasons children and young people
must be placed in ‘local provision wherever possible.
3.9.2
Any decision to place a child in externally purchased provision should be an exceptional
occurrence arising out of the particular specialist needs of the young person. The Head of
Children's Services must ratify the decision, and the Permanence Plan, and be satisfied
that the welfare of the young person cannot be promoted and safeguarded by local
provision.
3.9.3
A third tier manager will be responsible for scrutinising permanence plans. These plans,
in line with the policy, should be formulated at the second statutory review meeting and
must be reviewed according to statutory guidelines. Team Managers and Reviewing
Officers must report any deviation or drift from these plans to the relevant third tier
5
manager who may decide to bring it to the attention of the Head of Children's Services
and the Placement Panel.
4
Mandatory Procedures
4.1
Assessing Permanence Needs
Successful permanence planning involves more than identifying the child's permanent
placement. Social Workers who undertake assessments of need should bear in mind that
any future permanence plan will be informed by their assessment. Their assessments
must therefore a) be outcome focussed and b) include consideration of stability issues.
Both of these aspects are expected within current policy on assessment and within the
Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need. Social Workers who write the plan
for permanence must ensure it is clearly linked to previous assessments of the child's
needs.
4.1.2
Appendix One presents a brief, research based checklist of considerations about
Residence Orders, Adoption and Long-term Fostering.
4.1.3
In all cases use of a Family Group Conference must be considered as a possible method of
engaging those who know the child best, or who the child is most attached to, in
considering the child's long term needs. Harnessing family and community support
networks in this way may be particularly effective, for example, for children from black
and ethnic minority groups and for children with disabilities.
4.2
Documenting the Permanence Plan
The DoH is developing an Integrated Children’s System framework to support all
aspects of the planning process for children in need and looked after children. In the
meantime, Gloucestershire SSD policy is that the Care Plan is the permanence plan.
4.3
Content of the Permanence Plan
In order to meet standards set by Gloucestershire’s Permanence Policy and the National
Adoption strategy, the Social Worker writing the Care Plan must clearly set out the
following:
a) The objectives of the plan, phrased in terms of permanence outcomes
b) Key tasks/how these objectives will be met, including the proposed status of
the child and of their carers
c) Timescales for achieving the plan
d) Those responsible for achieving the plan and the respective roles of others
e) The criteria that will be used to evaluate the success of the plan.
f) Twin-tracking arrangements. (See “Contested Adoptions” in Adoption
Manual, Sept 2003) must be included alongside a plan for re-habilitation.
6
4.4.
4.4.1
Permanence and Contingency Planning
As mentioned in 4.3, the Permanence Plan must include twin-tracking arrangements.
The Social Worker must ensure that the birth parents are informed that our policy is to
rehabilitate most children to their families, but that twin-tracking arrangements are being
put in place to meet the child's needs and prevent unnecessary delay.
4.4.2
A number of contingency planning models are emerging, including 'Concurrent'
Planning and 'Parallel' or 'Twin Track' Planning (see appendix two). Gloucestershire
Social Workers must use the twin track model. Meanwhile, whilst the Child Care
Management Team have concluded that Concurrent Planning cannot currently be
resourced, it supports the principles underpinning this model and is committed to
considering how this model can be integrated into the child care strategy in the future.
4.5
4.5.1
Permanence and the Review Process
The National Adoption Standards state that a plan for permanence must be produced at
the four month statutory review. This means that the central focus of the second
Review, which takes place no more than 13 weeks after the beginning of the care
episode, will be to ensure that there is a clear plan for permanence. Referring to the
Care Plan, the Reviewing Officer must ensure that the agenda includes the following;
 Review permanence work to date,
 Review whether the chosen avenue to permanence is still viable i.e. whether
the Care Plan is still valid and
 if not, make sure that a planning meeting will be convened to consider the
most appropriate permanence alternative.
4.5.2
It is therefore expected that the SW will have consulted all parties and will bring the
plan, or a draft plan, to the meeting.
4.5.3
At the third Review, if the permanence plan has not progressed as stated in the Care
Plan, then the review meeting must establish whether the lack of progress is as a result
of drift or whether there are definable circumstances. No further rehabilitation plans should
be made (unless further assessment is specifically directed by the Court, or, in very
exceptional circumstances, it is agreed that an existing plan should continue) and the
alternative twin-track plan should be pursued This policy has been adopted in response
to research about children’s timescales and about the damaging effects of drifting in the
care system.
7
5
Practice Standards and Responsibilities
Practice Standards related to Permanence
Responsibility
1
Access Team (Initial) or
Children in Need Team (Core)
2
Assessments will include consideration of
how stability needs are being/should be
met. (para 4.1)
Where family breakdown is anticipated or has
happened, every effort will be made to secure a
suitable family/friends placement. (para 3.3 )
Access Team (within 7 day
timescale) or
Children in Need Team (within
core assessment/action as part
of service provided)
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
The purpose of any short term foster or
residential placement, in terms of their role in
the overall plan for permanence, will be clearly
expressed in case records and the
care/permanence plan (para 3.4)
Every child who is looked after must have a
permanence plan which includes measurable
milestones, clearly set out within the LAC Care
Plan. (paras 4.2, 4.3, 6.4.2 )
Where a child is looked after, the second
Statutory Review will focus on progress
towards achieving the Permanence Plan. (para
6.4.1 )
Ongoing case management will include carrying
out the tasks identified within the Permanence
Plan and monitoring of progress towards
achieving the plan (para 6.1 )
If the rehabilitation plan has not been achieved
by the third Statutory Review, this meeting
will review the validity of the current plan, and,
if appropriate, authorise switching to the twintracked plan for permanence (para 4.5.3 )
Adoption will be considered for all children
who cannot return to family or extended
family.
Where a long term foster placement has
been identified as the permanent
placement, a residence order will be the first
option in obtaining legal security.
Children in Need Team, up to
the 2nd review stage and
Children in Need Team if the
2nd review confirms the plan is
for the child to return home by
the 3rd Review .
Children in Need Social Worker
Children in Need SW and
Reviewing Officer and
Looked After Children SW if the
Plan includes long term
placement away from home, or
this option is included in the
contingency plan
Children in Need SW and
Manager up to the 2nd Review
or
Looked After Children SW and
Manager from the 2nd Review
Looked After Children SW and
Reviewing Officer
Looked After Children SW and
Fostering/Adoption Workers
and
Children in Need SW where
involved in proceedings
Looked After Children Sw,
Fostering and Adoption
Workers
8
Practitioner and Service
User-led Principles
Every child has the right to be
safe, living in an environment
which meets their needs to
develop and feel secure.
Every child has the right to
stability, consistency and
continuity within a number of
key relationships, which
promote their welfare and
development throughout and
beyond their childhood.
Every child has the right to
have his or her race, religion,
culture, class, disability, age,
gender and sexual orientation
taken into account, respected
and promoted.
Every child has the right to
be listened to and
consulted.
Every child needs the
commitment of a caring adult.
For the majority this will
happen within their birth
families and this should be
supported. This includes
extended family.
If a child has to leave their
birth family, the alternative
has to offer better outcomes.
Only when options within the
child’s own community have
been eliminated should public
care be considered.
Every child in public care
has a right to a
permanence plan.
Permanence planning may
include the possibility of
future rehabilitation.
Every child has the right to
maintain links with their
kinship network and
11
Children in permanent residential
placements will have permanence plans
that include efforts to secure a long term
network of supportive relationships. (para
3.8)
LAC Social Worker, Residential
Keyworker, Fostering and
Adoption Team
community unless it can be
shown that this is not in
their best interests.
6
6.1
How will we know that standards are being met?
Team Managers
It will be the responsibility of the Team Manager who line-manages the caseholder, to
monitor the case holder's progress towards achieving the practice standards set out in
the table above.
6.3
Reviewing Officers
The Reviewing Officer Team Manager will ensure that Reviewing Officers are aware of
their responsibility for:
 checking whether the Care Plan includes a Permanence plan in accordance with this
policy.
 checking that the Permanence Plan contains measurable milestones
 ensuring that the Second Review meeting includes the agenda outlined in 4.4,
 bringing any concerns about drift to the Social Worker, Team Manager or the
Permanence Monitoring Group as appropriate.
6.4
6.4.1
Standards 2002
Standard 1
Permanence procedures will be consistently applied across the county.
Indicator
The percentage of children who have a permanence planning meeting by the second
review (SSI information requirement).
6.4.2
Standard Two
Permanence Plans contain measurable milestones (SSI information requirement)
Indicator
The number of permanence plans that contain measurable milestones. Until further
direction from the DoH, this is taken to mean outcome statements about
a) progress being sought in terms of the child's development
b) specific actions or progress the parents/carers agree to make
a) actions that the caseholder (or other professional) plan to take, in order to secure the
permanence option identified for the child.
9
7
Good Practice Guidance
The following practice guidance is not exhaustive. It is drawn from research and from
consultation with young people, parents, carers and practitioners in Gloucestershire.
Suggestions by Team Managers for further reading are made in Appendix Three.
7.1
Supporting rehabilitation to birth or extended family
Research points to;
 the importance of clearly communicating to the family what needs to happen, so
that the child can return home, and within what timescales
 the importance of exploring family ties and long term relationships with family,
school and community, especially in the light of changing workers
 the use of Family Group Conferences as an effective way of facilitating both the
above.
“When my parents came to talk to me and my Social Worker, she helped me say how I
felt without them shouting at me and me storming off.” (Young Person who is looked after)
“It’s important to do everything you can to encourage frequent contact between the
young person and the family, even when that’s difficult. Regular contact with wider
family and friends can also be part of helping to keep everyone’s mind focussed on
preparing for a return home”. (Gloucestershire Social Worker)
“I’m going through the Residence Order process with my 10 year old grand-daughter.
The Residence Order will give her a sense of direction and will make her feel secure.
She’s going to stay and have the life she wants, that’s how she puts it.”
(Gloucestershire Foster Carer)
7.2
Identifying the best permanence option
Research points to;
 the importance of considering, within the assessment process, “how will stability
for this child be achieved?” Refer to Appendix One.
 This means considering long term stability in the sense of a permanent home with
the same family or group of people, as part of the same community and culture,
and with long term continuity of relationships and identity.
 short or medium term stability or continuity may also be an important issue both for
children who are going to stay in the care system for a brief period before going
home and for children who are going to need new permanent arrangements.
Making every effort to reduce changes of placement, school, separations from
friends and family, to minimise the number of uncertainties or unwelcome
surprises a child has to contend with, may make a huge difference to the quality of
the child’s life.
10
“I think Social Workers need to listen to us and find out who we trust and who we think can
help, either so we can go and live with them not in residential care, or we can be helped to
keep in touch with them” (Young person looked after)
“It’s about matching them with someone they can trust and who will give them a sense of
belonging for life – yet without unnecessarily losing what’s gone before.” (Social Worker)
“Recognise early on that children with disabilities also need permanence. Often, they need
it earlier than other children. Adoption for younger and older children with disabilities can
work really well. If they are fostered, there’s sometimes an awful uncertainty about where
they go when they’re 18. It’s about planning ahead, because the permanence needs of
children with disabilities go beyond that.” (Foster Carer)
7.3
Siblings – Issues to Consider
Research points to;
 The impact for separated siblings in terms of losing vital support, a shared history
and continuity. Children should be placed with their siblings unless there are
exceptional circumstances, such as dysfunctional interaction which cannot be
remedied, incompatible needs or where the lack of appropriate placement would lead
to unacceptable drift.
 The importance of identifying strengths and difficulties in sibling relationships in
order to make appropriate permanent placement decisions. It is important to
ascertain the perceptions and wishes of the child and their family, to assess the shared
experience of siblings and the children's individual permanence needs. This involves
thorough consideration of issues of gender, race, disability and identity.
 The importance of including regular contact between siblings within the Permanence
Plan wherever possible, if they cannot be placed together.
We don’t all share the same sense of family – it means different things to different people.
It helps when children are helped to understand who they are related to, especially if they
have complicated family trees including half-brothers or sisters living in different places.
Again, it’s about identity built on solid information. (Foster Carer)
7.4
Guarding against drift
Research points to;
 Unintended negative consequences of a ‘sequential’ approach, even where it
emphasises the primacy of family reunification as a permanency option. Children
who cannot return home often linger in foster care for many years, experiencing
multiple moves before exploration of other permanency options begin.
 Two models of practice have developed over recent years to prevent such
damaging delay occurring; ‘Twin Tracking/Parallel Planning’ and ‘Concurrent
Planning’. For more detail, please refer to Appendix Two.
11
 Avoiding drift necessitates timely contact between professionals involved in the
next stages of the plan and elements of the contingency plan (for example, contact
between the Looked After Children Team and the Fostering & Adoption Teams).
“I know things can take a long time to get sorted, but sometimes, I just didn’t know what
was going on” (Young Person Looked After)
“You’ve got to have a good Care Plan that makes sense to everyone you involve and send it
to. Otherwise, the work people do can get more reactive and peripheral rather than
focussing on a long-term plan.” (Social Worker)
“When the importance of doing things within the child’s timescales is recognised, drift is
avoided. This includes putting plans for permanence in place as soon as possible, explaining
things clearly to birth parents so they understand about the help they’ll get but that
children can’t wait forever, and considering adoption for younger children much more often.”
(Foster Carer).
7.5
Clearly communicating the Permanence Plan

Communicating a Permanence Plan effectively involves setting it out clearly and
concisely as part of the Care Plan, in a way that acts as a useful reference to all
involved during the Review process.

Good quality Care Plans set out clear, concise statements about intended outcomes.
Although 'a sense of permanence' can in itself be stated as an outcome, it can also be
presented as a means to achieving particular developmental outcomes.

Make ‘appropriate timescales’ clear. These are about “having regard to the child’s age
and circumstances, achieving a balance between a framework for an action plan to provide a
sense of stability for the child [belonging] and flexibility to allow for adequate changes in the
parent’s or birth family’s circumstances” (Family Rights Group 1998).
“Part of making the plan should be the Social Worker seeing the child a lot more before, to
see how they feel. Moving is a big step for some kids.” (young person looked after)
“Write the plan in plain English. Set out what the plan is supposed to achieve, who’s going to
do what, and what will happen if the plan isn’t achieved.” (Social Worker)
12
“When everyone works together in partnership and takes the time to communicate with
each other, plans are clearer and the placement is more likely to work for the child.”
(Adoptive Parent)
“When the adults work in partnership and clearly communicate plans, this can offset the
reality of placements having to be based simply on what is available at the time despite all
efforts at matching”. (Foster Carer)
7.6
Supporting stability within foster/adoptive families
Research points to;
 The problems that separated children have when important relationships are lost,
which in turn gets in the way of stability in the placement.
 The importance of attention to issues such as educational experiences, links with
extended family, hobbies and friendships - all contribute to guarding against
disruption and placement breakdown.
 The importance of carefully listening to what children want from the placement,
helping the relationship between carer and child to build, thorough plans around
contact with family, vigorous support during crisis times and taking a sufficiently
flexible attitude to adoption by carers (See University of York article listed in
Appendix three).
“What I think is the most important is having help to keep in contact with family, even if
you can’t live with them. Having people around that you feel you can talk to. And being
listened to about your feelings and about what you want to happen, not just concentrating
on your behaviour.” (Young person looked after)
When children with learning disabilities, who can take a long time to understand and accept
things, are helped to make sense of their relationship with their carers and family, this
helps them feel settled. It’s about clear information pitched at the right level depending
on their stage of development. (Foster Carer)
When Carers, Social Workers and Fostering and Adoption Workers respect the views of
some older children who desperately need security through the placement on the one hand,
but on the other hand don’t want a ‘replacement family’, this can help the young person
make healthy attachments at a level that they feel comfortable with. (Foster Carer)
When adoptive parents and foster parents keep in touch, in anticipation of the child’s
questions later on. It’s about respecting the child has made a bond. They need to be able to
look back and make sense of everything. (Adoptive Parent)
13
Appendix One: Permanence Options; Checklist of Considerations
Residence Orders
Child needs the security of a
legally defined placement with
alternative carers, but does not
require a lifelong commitment
involving a change of identity.
Adoption
Child's primary need is
to belong, to a family
who will make a
lifelong commitment
Long Term Fostering
Primary need is for a stable,
loving family environment
whilst there is still a
significant level of
continued involvement
with the birth family
Child's relation, foster or other Child's birth parents are Child has a clear sense of
carer needs to exercise day to
not able or not willing
identity with the birth
day parental responsibility and to share parental
family, whilst needing to be
is prepared to do so as a
responsibility in order
looked after away from
lifelong commitment
to meet their child's
home
needs, even though
there may be contact
There is no need for continuing Child needs an
There is need for
monitoring and review by the
opportunity to develop
continuing oversight and
Local Authority, although
a new sense of identity
monitoring of the child's
support services may still need whilst being supported developmental progress
to be arranged
to maintain or develop a
healthy understanding
of their past
Child has a strong attachment
Child expresses a wish Birth parents are able and
to the alternative carers and
to be adopted
willing to exercise a degree
legally defined permanence is
of parental responsibility
assessed as a positive
contribution to their sense of
belonging and security
(adapted from Devon Social Services Department Permanence Policy, Appendix 1, May 2001)
"Permanently there for me
Exists for an indefinite period
Reassuring that someone will be there for me
Means something that will last
A person that is permanent
Not temporary
Everybody needs this
Not expected to change
Continuous
Everybody feels happy and safe"
(Gloucestershire young person who is Looked After)
14
APPENDIX TWO: Contingency Planning
Concurrent planning.
In this model children are placed with foster/adoptive carers who can support attempts at rehabilitation
or adopt the child if rehabilitation fails. The potential benefits of this model are that it is anticipated that
children will experience fewer moves and be placed with the permanent family more quickly. Because
children do not linger in temporary foster care with multiple moves, problems of attachment and trust
will be minimised.
The key elements of this model include the following;








Make a culturally respectful assessment including family strengths and why the child is being
”looked after”. What needs to change and what services does the family need to support these
changes.
Setting of firm “Timelines” during which both reunification and permanence options are pursued.
Full and open sharing of information to all parties to include the impact of foster care on children,
time scales and the reason for these. Birth parents rights and responsibilities, the support available,
the permanency options and the consequences of not following through with the agreed plan.
Structured and frequent contact in an environment, which promotes the development of supportive
relationships.
The child is placed with foster/adoptive parents or birth relative where they will stay permanently if
plans for reunification are unsuccessful.
Early search for and involvement of immediate and extended family.
Use family conferences as a means of involving families in planning for child’s future.
Ongoing support to permanent resource parents through and after adoption.
Gloucestershire does not currently have a resource of Foster/Adoptive parents and therefore the
opportunities for implementing this model are limited to families where children are in ”Family and
Friends” placements where they can remain if they are unable to return home. However many of the key
elements of this model are valuable consideration when developing a plan.
Parallel or Twin Track Planning
Gloucestershire Social Workers are encouraged to consider working to this model; working towards
reunification whilst at the same time developing an alternative permanence plan, within strictly limited
timescales. The key difference here is that the children remain in temporary foster care until the court
makes the decision. Thus not pre-empting the courts decision. 'Twin Tracking refers to running Care and
Freeing proceedings together.
In both the concurrent planning and twin track model a contingency plan is developed in parallel with
intensive work with the biological family towards reunification. The contingency plans could include the
following;
1.
family and friends placement, with or without a residence order.
2.
Adoption outside the family.
3.
Residence order.
4.
long-term fostering
5.
Plan to remain long-term in residential placement.
Celia Balbernie 2002
Permanent Family Resource Centre Minnisota www.permanentfamily.org
Implementing Concurrent Planning.
National Child Welfare Resource Centre for Organisational Improvement. Portland Maine. USA .
www.muskie.usm.maine
15
Appendix Three: Useful Further Reading
Attachment
Crittenden, P.M. (ed) (2000) The Organisation of Attachment Relationships, Cambridge, C.U.P.
Fahlberg, V. (1991) A Child’s Journey Through Placement, London, BAAF
Howe, D. et al (1999) Attachment Theory, Child Maltreatment and Family Support, Palgrave, Macmillan
Permanence Options
Altstein, H., McRoy, R. (2000) Does Family Preservation Serve A Child’s Best Interests, Washington, Georgetown
University Press
Hunt, J., Macleod, A. (1999) The Best Laid Plans, London, The Stationary Office
Hunt, J., Macleod, A., Thomas, C. (1999) The Last Resort, London, The Stationary Office
Placement
DOH (1999) Adoption Now, London, Wiley
Hill, N., Shaw, M. (1998) Signposts in Adoption, London, BAAF
Lowe, N. et al (2000) Supporting Adoption, London, BAAF
Quinton, D. et al (1998) Joining New Families, Chichester, Wiley
Schofield, G. et al (2000) Growing Up in Foster Care, London, BAAF
Sellick, C., Thoburn, J. (1996), What Works in Family Placement, Ilford, Barnardos
Thoburn, J. (1990) Success and Failure in Permanent Family Placement, Aldershot, Gower/Avebury
Triseliotis, J. (2002) 'Long-term foster care or adoption? The evidence examined' Child and Family Social Work
Vol 7 Issue 1 p 23
Children’s Views
Mayall, B. (ed) (1994) Children’s Childhoods: Observed and Experienced, London, Falmer
Thomas, C., Beckford, V. (1999) Adopted Children Speaking, London, BAAF
Siblings
Mullender, A. (ed) (1999) We Are Family, London, BAAF
Lord, B., Borwich S. (1999) Together Or Apart, London, BAAF
Kinship
Broad, B. (2001) Kinship Care, Glasgow, Russell House
Tapsfield, R. (2001) Kinship Care: A Family Rights Group Perspective, London, NCB
Contact
Barker, S. (1999) Contact in Permanent Placement, London, BAAF
Fratter, J. (1996) Adoption with Contact, London, BAAF
Mullender, A., (ed) (1991) Open Adoption, London, BAAF
16