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Contents

1. Consultation
2. Placement Request
3. Identification and Approval of Placement
4. Placement Planning
5. Young People in Foster Care 18+
6. Notification of Placement
7. Support and Monitoring of Placements
8. Ending of Placements
9. Out of Hours (EDT ) Foster Care
10. Obtaining a Long Term Foster Placement
11. Remand Fostering
12. Task Centred Fostering

1. Consultation

At the point that it is determined that a placement may be required, and throughout the subsequent process of identification, planning and placement, the social worker must consult and take account of the views of the following people:

1. The child;
2. The child's parents;
3. Anyone who is not a parent but has been caring for or looking after the child;
4. Other members of the child's family who are significant to the child or who have a Contact Order in their favour in relation to the child;
5. The child's school or the education service;
6. The Youth Offending Service, if the child is known to them;
7. Any other relevant person, e.g. nursery, health care professional, Children's Guardian.

The views of these people should be given by them, in writing, or should be recorded by the social worker.

There are a number of issues that should be considered which will influence the choice of placements including:

• Nearness to the child's own home;
• Contact with parents and family;
• Accommodation with siblings (if required);
• Matching in terms of ethnicity and of cultural and linguistic background;
• Matching in terms of religious persuasion and observance;
• Suitability for meeting the needs of children with disabilities;
• Continuity in terms of education and health care.

2. Placement Request

Where a decision has been made that a child requires a foster placement, the child's social worker should request a placement by contacting the Placements Service.

In making this request, the social worker will be asked to provide information about the child, the type of placement sought, the Care Plan, the date by which the placement is required, the likely length of time for which the placement is required and the expected level of contact between the child and parents. The social worker should also complete a risk assessment in relation to the placement.

The social worker should also complete a CC6 form for a short term placement and a CC9 form  if a long term placement is being sought. These should be emailed  to the placement service using  placementservice@leeds.gov.uk

The Placement Service will check whether an in-house placement is available that appears to be appropriate to meet the child's needs. If such a placement is available or if there is a possibility of a placement by the required date, the social worker will be advised accordingly.

If no appropriate in-house placements are available and the child requires a placement without delay, the Placement Service will obtain the agreement of the Head of Service (HoS) through the fostering manager to make enquiries with independent fostering agencies to identify a suitable placement.

Where there is a child already in the proposed foster placement, contact should be made with the social worker for that child and where the child is from a different local authority, the consent of that child's local authority should be sought by the duty social worker at the Fostering Service.

3. Identification and Approval of Placement

Once a potential placement has been identified, the child's social worker will liaise with the foster carer's supervising social worker (who may be from an independent fostering agency) to agree arrangements for the placement.  At this stage, the social worker will also discuss the child with the prospective foster carer and, in particular, share any risks associated with the placement with the foster carers and the supervising social worker. The social worker should also ensure that the foster carers are aware of any risk the child may present to other children and adults in the placement.

Where the proposed placement is an in-house placement, it will then be presented to the social worker's manager for approval.

If the placement is outside the foster carer's terms of approval or an exemption is required, see Fostering Exemptions and Extensions Procedure.

If the proposed placement is with an independent fostering agency, the HoS must approve the placement and a written agreement must be drawn up with the fostering agency setting out the precise terms and conditions between the local authority and the agency in relation to the placement.

If the relevant manager approves the foster placement, the placement planning process can start - see Section 4, Placement Planning. 

The social worker may then arrange an introductory visit to the proposed placement, with the child (if old enough) and parents (if appropriate).

4. Placement Planning

Before the child is placed, the child's social worker will arrange a Placement Planning Meeting after liaising with the foster carer and the foster carer's supervising social worker (who may be from an independent fostering agency). The meeting will usually be held in the new placement. See also Placement Planning Meetings and Disruption Meeting Procedure

Participants will include:

• The parent;
• The child (if appropriate)
• The foster carer;
• The supervising social worker;
• Any other relevant professionals, e.g. a representative from the child's school;
• Anyone else considered appropriate or who will have a role in the placement.

The purpose of the first Placement Planning Meeting is to finalise the Placement Information Record. This will involve a discussion of the child's needs, including health and education needs and how these are to be met.

The meeting also provides an opportunity to ensure that the foster carers have a copy of any relevant court order and that full information is shared with them about the child's needs and any behaviour management issues.

Except in emergency placements, the Placement Planning Meeting should be held before the placement.  Where this is not possible, it should be held at the latest within 72 hours of the placement.

The child's social worker will complete and arrange for the circulation of the Care Plan and Placement Information Record to the child, parents and foster carers before or at the latest, within 72 hours of the placement.

At the time of the placement, the foster carers should also be given any additional information about details of the child's day to day needs which are not covered by the Placement Information Record but are important to ensure that the carers are in the best possible position to help the child settle in the new placement, for example any particular fears at night-time or the child's favourite toys.

The child's social worker must provide the child and the parent with written information about coming into care, including information on using the Complaints Procedure.

In addition, the social worker should ensure that any other information about the placement that is available for the child is obtained and given to him/her.

In all cases, the child should be accompanied to the placement by the social worker and helped to settle in. Suitable luggage should be used and a child's belongings should never be transported in bin-bags or other inappropriate containers.

5. Young People in Foster Care 18+

When a young person reaches 18yrs, for the purpose of payment, that young person will continue to be considered the first placement. However for the purposes of fostering regulations, that young person will not count as a placement, but as an adult member of the household.

Should approval for further foster placements be subsequently sought, the usual review/reassessment process will be applied.

6. Notification of Placement

The child's social worker will update the child's electronic records with the details of the placement and should complete the notice of movement form. It is the social workers responsibility to ensure that this is signed by the team manager and given to admin who will notify boarding out.

Notification of the placement will also be sent by the child's social worker to the Designated Nurse for LAC, the education service, the relevant local Children's Services (if the placement is in the area of a different local authority and the child's GP.

The child's social worker will notify all family members consulted and involved in the decision-making process of the placement.

The child's social worker must also notify the allocated Independent Reviewing Officer or, if it is the first placement, the Integrated Safeguarding Unit (ISU) of the placement. This notification will trigger the appointment of an Independent Reviewing Officer if it is the first placement, and the setting up of arrangements for a Looked After Review.

These notifications must be made in writing, advising of the placement decision and the name and address of the person with whom the child is to be placed.

The child's social worker should also notify - preferably in writing but it may be verbally - all those involved in the day to day arrangements for the child, including nursery/school and any health professional or YOT worker actively involved with the child.

It will be necessary for the foster carer or the child's social worker to ensure the child is registered with a GP, Dentist and Optician, either retaining practices known to him or her (which is preferable) or in the area where they are placed.

In relation to a first Looked After placement it will also be necessary for the social worker to liaise with the Designated Nurse for LAC to arrange a Health Needs Assessment. The social worker must also contact the relevant school of, where the child does not have a school place, the relevant education officer with a view to the completion of a Personal Education Plan.

For any new placement, every effort should be made to enable the child to remain at the same school unless there are reasons which would be detrimental to his or her well being.

7. Support and Monitoring of Placements

The child's social worker must visit the child in the placement within one week of the placement and then, at a minimum, every six weeks during the first year, thereafter every three months - see Social Work Visits Procedure.

The foster carer will also receive support and supervision from their supervising social worker (for in-house placements) - see Supervision of Foster Carers Procedure - and from the independent fostering agency (for external placements).

Where there are concerns in relation to the progress of the placement, consideration should be given to seeking additional resources to assist the carers.

Where there are any changes to the type of placement or to the child's legal status during the placement, the child's social worker must update the child's electronic records.

8. Ending of Placements

When the placement ends, the child's social worker must update the child's electronic records and notify the finance section so that payments to the carer/provider will cease. The social worker will also send copies to those notified when the placement was made.

All written information on the child, which the foster carer holds, should be transferred to the supervising social worker for transfer to the child's social worker.

In appropriate cases, the foster carer should be asked to complete an end of placement report.

Where the placement ends in an unplanned way, consideration should be given to holding a Disruption Meeting - see Placement Planning Meetings and Disruption Meeting Procedure

9. Out of Hours (EDT) Foster Care

The definition of an EDT placement is one made by the Emergency Duty Team, following a referral received outside normal working hours. 

The Placement Service will not be involved in EDT placements, other than by sending to EDT via email at the end of each day, an updated list of carers with EDT placements available for use. 

The EDT team must notify the Placement Service by email, of any placements that are used.

The task of EDT foster carer will be undertaken by level 4 (Of the Payment For Skills Scheme)carers, with the exception of babies aged 0-2yrs who may be placed with level 2 carers.  

Any level 4 carer (or level 2 in respect of babies 0-2yrs) with a vacancy can offer themselves as available for EDT placements, but only after consultation and agreement with their SFO/ Team Manager where a risk assessment of the circumstances, accommodation and existing placements within the household will be undertaken and 'terms of use' by EDT agreed and recorded on file (ages/gender/profiles etc). They should have a spare room available for EDT placements.

Carers can only be available to take EDT placements where a "vacancy" exists. Only carers with less than 3 foster children in placement can therefore take an EDT placement. They should have a spare room available for EDT placements.

Where there is a dispute between foster carers and SFO's about EDT availability, fostering panel should be consulted as part of the foster carer review process.

EDT carers must be prepared and equipped to receive children in crisis at short notice. They should not expect that children will go to nursery/school/college 'as usual' and they should expect a high level of social work involvement, meetings and appointments (e.g. medical etc), during the course of the placement.

The fee and maintenance allowance payments for EDT placements are as detailed in foster carer Terms and Conditions, and the Fostering Service Financial Policy (FN16).

EDT payments can be paid for up to 28 days to enable time to review interventions and plan alternatives.

10. Obtaining a Long Term Foster Placement

The decision to seek a long term foster placement must be made at a review at which a Fostering Officer will normally be present. The decision must be endorsed by the Children's Services Manager.

A long term foster placement (where it is intended that the child will remain with the Foster Carers for an indefinite / permanent period) should be sought only in exceptional circumstances where all alternatives - including placement with the child's parent(s), other relatives or adoption - have been considered and discounted.

Following a review as above, the social worker will provide the Team Manager Fostering and Adoption with the child's details using the CC 9 and the Placement Plan Part 1 forms.

When a suitable "match" is proposed, the child's social worker and link Fostering Officer for the proposed Foster Carers will jointly visit the Foster Carers to discuss the child's needs and the care plan, which will include arrangements for the proper preparation of the child for the move.

Approval for a proposed "match" and subsequent placement will take place at the appropriate Fostering Panel.

11. Remand Fostering

Placement Type

Young people who have been remanded to local authority accommodation including young people on conditional bail to reside as directed by the Local Authority. The scheme also includes those on court or police bail, and young people at risk of becoming involved in offending.

Length of Placement

For the period during which they meet the criteria for the scheme and to allow for move on plans to be established.

Information Required Prior to Placement

The Referral Form - Remand Foster Scheme from the Word templates should be used to make a referral to this Scheme. This covers the following areas:

1. Current offences (main offence, TICs, offences currently under investigation);
2. Any previous offending history (including cautions and disposals);
3. Anticipated parental/family contact;
4. Any restrictions imposed by the court;
5. Proposed level of support to be offered by Social Worker/Youth  Support Worker, and clarity where casework responsibility lies;
6. Significant behavioural concerns (e.g. substance abuse, bed wetting).

The following factors, if relevant, will need to be given careful thought before any placement could be made:

1. A known history of offences involving violence;
2. The young person presents a danger to themselves or others;
3. Known sexual offences.

It is important that all relevant information is given to Foster Carers.

Referral Procedure

The referral procedure for obtaining a remand fostering bed differs according to whether the young person already has a social worker prior to the remand being made:

1. If the young person already has a Social Worker
   
   The Social Worker should consult with the Principal Case Worker Remand Scheme as to the appropriateness of the proposal, and if a referral is to be made to the scheme, inform the Youth Court team of this.  The referral should be e-mailed to the Resources Desk and copied to the PCW Remand Scheme on the Referral Form - Remand Foster Scheme;
   
   The Social Worker is responsible for any transport required to and from the Court.  Once a placement is made the Social Worker must ensure that the Youth Offending Service, and the Pathway Team (if 16 and over) or Resources Section (if under 16) are aware of the placement;
2. If the young person does not already have a social worker
   
   Following a remand in charge by the Magistrates, discussions will take place between the young person, parents and youth court officer. If a remand foster placement is seen to be appropriate, the Youth Court Officer should make a referral to the Resources Desk.  Consultation should also take place with the Duty Team Manager;
   
   The Youth Court Team will be responsible for the transport from the court to the foster placement. The case responsibility will transfer to the relevant social worker team at this time. The Principal Case Worker Remand Scheme will organise the planning meeting;
3. For referrals of both types:
   
   At the time of placement a copy of the referral form must be signed by, and left with, the Foster Carer;
   
   The placement address is entered on ESCR and the CSIR 13 Notice of Change in Circumstances form is completed by the social worker stating that the carer is on a special scheme, then faxed to the Finance Section;
   
   A placement planning meeting, to be arranged and chaired by the Principal Case Worker Remand Scheme must take place within three working days of placement.  The following people should be invited to the planning meeting: young person, parent/guardian, Foster Carer, Youth Offending Service,  and Social Worker or Probation Officer;
   
   A copy of the LAC form Placement Plan Part 1 - Placement agreement must be completed at the planning meeting and a copy given to the Foster Carers;
   
   (Remand fostering placements do not need to be approved by the fostering panel).

Placement Ending

It will be the responsibility of the Children's Team Manager to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for accommodation to be available once the remand fostering placement comes to  an end. If the young person is missing for seven days or more the placement is finished.

Carers may give 28 days notice to end the placement if the placement is problematic. This must be discussed with the Principal Caseworker and the young person's social worker

12. Task Centred Fostering

Placement Type

This scheme is primarily for children who might otherwise be denied the positive benefits of family life, and/or where the child care system has failed to provide an appropriate placement. Placement will often include substantial contact with birth families. The following criteria will be used in assessing suitable children:

• Mainly for 10 year old and above children;
• For those who have spent substantial periods in residential care, or experienced fostering breakdowns, or who have experienced several moves in the care system;
• Agreement and preparation of the child, and their involvement in decision making, is an integral part of the scheme.

Length of Placement

No time limit is imposed, but an expected duration would need to be agreed before the placement began.

Information Required Prior to Placement

Information must be given by the child's social worker and should include contributions from the child and current carer. The LAC Essential Information: Part 1 and the Primary Care Plan can be used.

There is likely to be a waiting list for the scheme and Social Workers should tell the Principal Case Worker (Permanent Fostering) of any change in circumstances of those children on the waiting list.

Referral Procedure

A decision to refer to the scheme will be taken at a child's statutory review.

• CC 9 sent to the link Team Manager Fostering and Adoption;
• Child placed on waiting list;
• Task centred carer and respite carer identified;
• Proposed match taken to fostering panel;
• Pre-placement meetings arranged;
• Planning meeting held (convened and chaired by the Principal Case Worker)  to cover tasks to be undertaken and by whom, equipment required etc;
• Reconvened planning meeting held (convened and chaired by PCW);
• CSIR 13 Notice of Change In Circumstances form is completed by the social worker and faxed to Finance stating that the carer is on a special scheme.

A high level of visiting by the Social Worker is expected.

Up to 28 days per year respite will be arranged with a respite carer, organised by the Principal Case Worker.

Placement Ending

 It is expected that all placements will end by agreement between the Social Worker, Young Person, Foster Carer, and the Principal Case Worker.

End