Author: Coombs, Amy - SC SCS

Kent County Council
Foster to Adopt Scheme
Information for Parents

What is a Foster to Adopt placement?
If you are reading this, you are likely to be a parent who is about to have a baby or already have a baby or young child and social workers are worried that you will not be able to consistently and safely meet your child’s needs. Because of these concerns the Local Authority plan may be to issue care proceedings and for your baby to be looked after by foster carers.
You may be feeling angry, sad or confused. This leaflet provides information about foster to adopt placements and how this type of placement will meet your child’s needs during the court proceedings.
Social workers are always keen to ensure your child does not have lots of changes of carers as this is not good for them. Therefore foster to adopt placements are provided for babies and children for whom social workers consider adoption might be a possible option. These placements are also called ’foster to adopt’ placements. A foster to adopt carer is a carer who is approved both as a prospective adopter and as a foster carer. This means that if the court decides your child should be adopted, they will remain in their foster placement and be adopted by their carers, whereas in a normal foster placement your child will need to move once adopters have been identified. If the court decides your child should return to your care or a family member, a foster to adopt placement will mean that your child has not had to move to a different foster placement and that they will have received consistent care during the court proceedings.

Kent County Council’s foster to adopt carers have been specially trained to undertake this specific fostering role. The carers understand that the local authority may still be working with you to address the challenges that led to you not being able to care for your child.
What are the advantages for your child?
The scheme is based on the understanding that all young children require security and stability. This scheme minimises the number of moves that your child may experience before a permanent plan is agreed by the court. The court is very aware of the need to make timely decisions about plans for children. Ideally children will be able to remain with their parents or wider family but, if that is not possible, then it is better for your child to remain with carers who they know and who are able to offer adoption, if that becomes the plan.
The arrangements for contact will be decided in court and this will be discussed with you by the social workers involved. If contact can happen in a safe way for your child you will have the opportunity to develop a relationship with the carers who will be bringing your child to contact and updating you on their progress in placement at regular meetings.
How will this impact on you?
You may have concerns about this plan and it is very important that you discuss the plans with your solicitor and the social workers.
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It is also important that you feel reassured that the carers understand that they are foster carers for your child and that your child may return to you or to their birth family if that is what is decided by the court at the end of the proceedings.
Meetings with professionals
Your child’s social worker can explain to you in more detail the information in this leaflet.
You will be asked as part of this process to sign consent regarding health information being shared with the carers about you which is relevant to your child, for example your ante-natal care. It would be really helpful if you are able to meet with the doctor who will be carrying out your child’s medical to make sure that all the important information about your child is available to the doctor.
The court will appoint a guardian for your child who is independent of the local authority. The guardian’s role is to represent the voice of, safeguard and promote the welfare of your child. The guardian will be familiar with the foster to adopt process and will be part of the decision making in the court proceedings.
What should you do next?
You should discuss this leaflet with your solicitor and seek advice from them. If you do not have a solicitor you can find one by searching on the law society website. The link for the website is http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/.
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