Introductions - Practice Guidance

A placement planning meeting should be convened as soon as the appropriate preparation of the child and the prospective adopter(s) has been completed.

This should be chaired by the Fostering and Adoption Team Manager or Senior Practitioner and to maintain consistency preferably by the person who chaired the Matching meeting.

A formal inter-agency meeting must also take place if the child is being placed with prospective adopter(s) approved by another agency. The meeting should be attended by the prospective adopter(s), the link worker to the adopter(s), the foster carer(s) for the child, the supervising social worker for the foster carer(s), the child's social worker and the family finder. T

he meeting must be minuted and a copy of these minutes should be retained on the child's adoption file.

The meeting should agree a plan of introductions between the child and the prospective adopter(s) which must include a minimum of one formal review of the introductions before placement. It will also identify what other meetings should take place during the introductory period and what information is outstanding (Life Story Book, Letter of Origin, paperwork to set up contact arrangements, etc.)

• It is usual for the prospective adopter(s) to meet significant members of the child's birth family if this is appropriate.  The Adoption social worker is responsible for setting up any meetings and for supporting the birth relatives before, during and after any meeting(s). The prospective adopter(s)' link worker will also usually be present throughout any meeting(s) to support them.
• Meetings should be scheduled with any other significant people e.g. teacher(s), therapist(s) etc
• If a Life Appreciation Day has not been held earlier consideration should be given to convening one during the introductory period
• As soon as possible after the placement planning meeting, the prospective adopters must be sent the adoption placement plan-
• The supervising social worker for the foster carer(s) should take a lead in helping to prepare the foster carer(s) for the placement move and in assisting them to support the child to move on to the care of his/her new family This is a vital area of work and should not be overlookedThe length and pace of the introductions will be primarily dictated by the needs and responses of the child.Prior to the placement being effected the prospective adopter(s) must be provided with full written information in respect of the child including:
• The Child's Permanence Report
• Medical reports, including any psychological and/or psychiatric reports (if these are court documents then the permission of the court is needed; permission of the author of any medical reports, other than the adoption agency medical adviser's report, is also needed)
• Education details including PEP, school reports
• Copy of the Adoption Placement Plan
• Child health record
• Information about how and when to access support, including out of office hours.
• Life Story Book
• Any other information that the Department considers appropriate including exercising parental responsibility

Placement

On the day that the child is placed the transfer of care should  be supervised by the child's social worker.

The prospective adopter(s) must be given written details of how and where to access support including details of who to contact for advice/support outside of normal office hours. (This should be included in the written information provided in advance).

The birth parents should be notified that the child has been placed.

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