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Support for Birth Parents when Adoption is the Plan for their Child
Having a child placed for adoption is a significant event for any birth parent and there is a need to provide them with support, not only now but also in the long term.
Task | Responsible officer | Record Required | Timescale | Support for Birth parents |
Decision to pursue adoption for a child once birth relatives have been discounted | Team manager / Social Worker | Case record Care Plan | For consideration by the 4th month review. | |
Looked After Child Review to endorse the plan for permanence | Independent reviewing Officer | Minutes of Looked After Child review & previous relevant minutes | For consideration by the 4th month review. | Reviewing Officer/Family Placement Service Social Worker to notify support for birth parents worker (Senior Social Work Practitioner within Quality Assurance). |
Permanency Planning Meeting to be held and Legal Advice to be sought from the Departmental lawyer if required | Child's Social Worker | Looked After Child documentation on case file | For consideration by the 4th month review | |
Decision made for permanence. birth parents notified orally within 24 hours. Provide information with regard to available support to birth parents. Ascertain birth parents wishes and feelings. Offer to meet with birth parents to provide information regarding adoption & advice of their right to seek legal advice | Child's Social Worker & Family Placement Service | Case recordingAdoption planning meeting minutes.Birth parent counselling report | Notify orally at 4 month reviewCounselling options to be discussed soon after | Meeting with birth parents undertaken by Family Placement Service Social Worker.Family Placement Service Social Worker to provide birth parents with information about the support service. Ask birth parents if they would like to be referred to the service or would like to self refer.Leaflet given to explain details of support available to birth parents. |
Quality assured & signed Child Permanence Report prepared.Child Permanence Report sent to Family Placement Service | Child's Social WorkerChild's Social Worker | CPR | Within 8 weeks of LAC reviewReport provided within two weeks | |
Child matched with adoptive carers or Community Parenting Order made and child is already placed with prospective adopters. | Child's Social Worker / Family Placement service Social Worker | |||
Adoption Order Made | Family Placement Service to notify the Support for Birth families Service.Support to Birth Families Service write to Birth Parents to offer appointment.Up to six appointments can be provided from Support to Birth Families Service. (This can be spread over a two year period.) |