Thoughts from Catherine - you might want to discuss…
● Planned and unplanned endings - clear on definitions and how this is recorded
● Exit interviews for children leaving your service
● How you conduct “good goodbyes”
● Preparing the child for leaving and “checklists” for their departure - inventories, savings,
belongings etc
● Reflection and debriefs for carers and carers own family members - understanding the loss
● Children not feeling abandoned when they leave
● Notice period and prolonged endings that can lead to risks of allegations, heightened
behaviours - “immediate notice”
● Finding alternative care for children - in the short term within the service - and the true meaning of matching
● Learning from endings and profile updates, matching considerations - not placing children that may be similar and trigger similar challenges
● How quick do carers say “this needs to end”
● Or how long to they carry on and experience burn out - the emotional commitment - guilt and unable to end things - and the role of the agency in this
Members discussion
- LA carer moved to an IFA. LA served 28 days notice. Challenged. A lot of poor practice. 3 years of stability and LA moved the child to a family member and this then broke down. No transition planning. Poor communication. New social worker who doesn’t know the child is leading and writing care plans.
- Another example of a foster carer transferring to an IFA and LA are moving the child - permanence - however, now saying moving to a family member - child not aware (7 yrs old) - notice given - carers saying importance of supporting this naturally (LA named - marie to consider if this is the same as the few concerns she is aware of)
- No plans for transitions, school plans
- IRO role - and ensuring CLA takes place before any final plans arranged - challenges of IRM some will and some will not
- LASW writing care plans that have not met the child
- Chronology highlighting the stability of the child, of the regs and standards that apply and the support and flexibility of the carers to be evidenced to the head of service - !!!
IFAs have a lot of similar experiences - two key issues:
- Poor decision making - often budget led so endings are not always in best interests. Hard to challenge, but significant negative impact on children.
- LAs not having capacity to make sure there is time for proper planning and communication. IFAs have to manage the consequences of this.
Discussed the importance of logs, supervisions etc all as evidence in relation to the time of the allegation and without the strength of these it can make all vulnerable
Keeping inventories up to date is important. As children acquire more belongings, be mindful of luggage. Use of black bin liners - IFAs on the call said that they all had policies to not use BBL’s and worked hard to ensure that this didn’t happen. But they were seeing children coming into their services with their possessions in these. ( a couple of examples are from residential and one was an IFA)
Be mindful as to how much to include the child in keeping their inventory. Avoid situations where the child feels labelled but also make them feel assured you know what belongs to them.
Good practice example - after carers first supervision after a child has moved on, a therapeutic letter is written to the child from the carers and sent to the social worker to share with the child as and when appropriate.
IFA are required to have the forwarding address for a child. Not all local authorities are aware of this, so IFAs may need to help them in knowing this.
Further discussion re inventories - some agencies complete them when a child arrives - this was helpful as when the child left they said some expensive trainers was missing - this supported to show that there was no trainers
Key info for inventories - a handover function - so keep it live - maybe an overview in line with CLA - does not have to be between the child and agency etc - a useful live chronology between the agency and LA - that keeps up to date re important people in the child's life, and contact details - their belongings, etc - suggestion of alternative ways re taking photos of the belongings - discussed the importance of children leaving with memory boxes
Discussion re one agency does not allow the FC to dispose of anything - broken toys, clothes too small - to be put in a separate case/storage as could have some significance to their history, their family etc
Discussion re when child leave and there are things like play stations and tv - and carers say it does not belong to them and to remain in the home - this can cause tension as the child was under the impression it was theirs - how can this be evidenced in the inventory - following events, christmas, birthdays that show for the LA it belongs to the child (again sensitivity around the completion of this and not a checklist re children) - child does not need to know but knows things are being kept safe
Storage of belongings - a child had 19 bin bags when arrived ! - first not ok that arrived with bin bags - but also their lives become even fuller and have so many additional things they might leave with - bikes etc - and LA not taking them - leaves difficulties for storage - example was to find storage and invoice the LA - storage costs
Discussion re difficult not to have an inventory as held accountable as an agency if the child or their family say things are missing
Other discussion re ends - learning from short arrangements - child with carers 4 days and needed to end - LA wanted to wait 28 days for a meeting - discussion re the difference in disruption meetings for long term and adoption - and how this might differ - a “learning exchange meeting” - to understand the concerns
Unplanned ending reflection meeting - was discussed - invite from foster carer, agency and LA - although LA do not often attend - discussed an additional bit in mins - what can the agency do differently , carer do differently - and any learnings for the LA and despite them not being there - see the mins and their duty to think about their part within this
Example of a carer who brought a child in the office and left them - saying they could not have them any longer , did the same 6 mths later - discussed the process - the carers resigned - discussed the agency still undertaking a report that should they have not resigned they would have undertaken a full review that questioned ongoing suitability - role for panel
QA - learnings and not recommendation from panel - also that the carer is aware undertaking this and will sit on file - also if concerned from a safeguarding view - LADO to consider the harm of the children - also DBS process
Members chat function
Has the child been consulted about the plan and is there an Independent Advocate involved? - being arranged
https://www.nafp.org.uk/resources/supporting-information-for-placing-authority-when-childs-fostering-arrangement-is-ending
Could you share an example of the therapeutic letter?
Is there an example of the inventory that could be shared?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c703702z7zxo#:~:text=Nine%20of%20the%2022%20local,in%20a%20 black%20 bin%20 bag.
We have just had to put a complaint in regarding a young person arriving from a residential placement into the foster placement with all her belongings in a black bag
Harvey Gallagher to Everyone: I was part of the original England campaign ‘This is not a suitcase’ run by A National Voice
We have seen more 'Aldi' bags than black bags in the last few years - is this really any different?
We ensure right from the initial training and assessment, that applicants understand that even in the most stressful situations when placements end, bin bags and carrier bags are not acceptable. We have bought suitcases if needed in those emergency situations.
https://www.bagsofhope.org.uk/
(Also in Wales, charity to donate bags for children in care)
It would be helpful for inventory lists to include a mention of appropriate luggage so that there’s a check of ensuring there is sufficient luggage to contain the belongings if move was required in an emergency.
● Harvey Gallagher to Everyone:
● https://www.madlug.com/
● https://www.nafp.org.uk/resources/stability-practice-meeting
● Harvey Gallagher to Everyone:
● https://www.nafp.org.uk/resources/endings-practice-meeting
● From Harvey Gallagher to Everyone:
● https://www.nafp.org.uk/pages/practice-support-for-our-members
