Supporting children to move from foster care to adoption
One of the important roles many short-term foster carers do is supporting children who have lived with them to move to their adoptive parent/s.
Most children come into foster care on a short-term basis, although they often return to live with their family, there are some occasions they are unable to. This is when adoption or permanent fostering may be considered.
Supporting a child to move from fostering to adoption
As a foster carer of babies, toddlers and young children, moving children from foster care to adoption is something you may need to do. Some children have a plan for adoption when they come to live with you, or the plan for adoption may be made a little later, whilst children are living with you. As a foster carer, your role will be to support the child emotionally for their move to their new adoptive family. You will meet the adopters and share information about the child's routines, likes and dislikes and help the child and adopters to develop their relationship. You'll be supported to do this by your own fostering social worker, the child's social worker and there's training and support from other experienced foster carers too.
"I heard a bit about the adopters first, the social worker rang me and told me that I think we've got a family for him, and then they came for a visit at my house.
"When we knew the match was going ahead, I helped him understand through play what was going to happen. I explained that he'd lived with mam then he came to live with me and my daughter and he was going to go to his new family to stay with them. Then the adopters did their little Welcome Book, which was just beautiful. It showed pictures of them, it showed the little boy their house, all their extended family and the school he would be going to. When we started going through that it did start clicking with him. And then we had a face-to-face meeting at a park and the connection was instant. It was just lovely".
Once a plan for adoption is made, the timescales for children to move to their new parents usually happens within a few weeks. Your role is to make sure the child is always comfortable, and introductions are relaxed and done at a suitable pace. It can be a very daunting and emotional time for adoptive parents so you are also there to support them, offer reassurance and guidance on care, and when needed to take a step back when appropriate too.
There is a planning meeting which a timetable to plan everything is made. Adopters will come to your house and meet the child and you will also take the child to their new home so they become familiar with their new surroundings. Adopters will continue your routines to promote consistency for the child.
Early permanence fostering
Although the name includes fostering, this is for adopters, to be considered for early permanence fostering, you would apply with a Regional Adoption Agency. This is a type of fostering allows a very young child or baby to live with adopters who are also temporarily approved as foster carers. This minimises moves for children and promotes them to develop a secure attachment with their future adoptive parent/s.
Fostering after adoption
How do foster carers cope when children leave?
"When I was told she'd been matched with a family, I was a bit cut up about it. You know that they were never yours to start with and that they'll be going back to their birth family or moving on. But knowing that she's going was a bit daunting and I was so reassured when I met her adoptive mam. I could see how excited she was. It was really reassuring that actually they'd found a good match for her." Sarah, foster carer.
Foster carers understandably build strong bonds with children they care for and share their lives with. Foster carers have told us, although they feel sad when children leave their home, they feel reassured through training and working with the adopters that it is a positive move for children to be part of a new adoptive family. Many adopters choose to keep in touch with our foster carers and keep them up to date with how their family is, however this is the choice of adopters. Foster carers are always fully supported by their individual fostering social worker and other carers are able to offer support too when children move on.
We're here to support you so you can share your home to shape their future
Our Foster with North East Hub team offers help and advice for those considering fostering. We also provide support and guidance during your fostering journey, right up to your approval as a foster carer. We provide pre-approval Skills to Foster training, which equips you with knowledge and confidence to care for children.
Find out more
If you've got a question about fostering or would like to explore how fostering can work for you, we would love to hear from you and support you on your journey to foster. You can make an enquiry or call us 0800 917 7771. You can also meet Foster with North East Social workers at information events in your area.
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