He presented as younger than his actual age and with a slightly odd appearance drew comments and remarks from his peers. And if so, what would have been the right course of action? This could be if: Concern is raised through the child’s, foster carer’s or units review process; Where an … They may believe that if they show you their true colours, their âworst selfâ, then you will give up. Social Care Institute for Excellence. The presence of resilient and thoughtful adults, able to build and sustain relationships in complex and testing circumstances would seem to offer the best hope for working through difficult times and providing the essential continuity and stability to come through crises. before the child is ready to leave care. The findings suggested that foster carers experienced placement endings as a process which involved both shorter and longer term reactions. But if your biological child exhibited the same behaviours, then you would have to find a way through. If, after exploring all of that, you and the supervising social worker come to the conclusion that placement should end, the local authority will then have 28 days to find a foster family for your young person. What happens if I want to end a foster placement? This behaviour became a focus for disagreement between Ron, the support social worker from the fostering agency and also the local authority social workers. We did lots of one-to-one work. Not for every foster carer, and not often, but it does happen. Foster parents also indicated that they would consider ending a placement if their personal circumstances changed, their own health deteriorated, or there was a lack of appropriate external support in place. No part of this website may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the Directors of LiKa Family Fostering, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Removing a foster child from your home can be as difficult for your family as it can be for the foster child. The acting-out of the super-hero fantasy seemed to be escalating at times of anxiety and uncertainty along with increasing signs of obsessing behaviours, difficulties in communicating with peers and adults and outbursts of what his teachers expressed as Alan taking opportunities for seeking confrontation. Over the course of the placement any changes in social worker always added to Alan’s anxiety; some he liked, some he loathed, but there was never any opportunity to forge and maintain a longer- term relationship. Sustaining such placements is often challenging and stressful for foster carers and their supporting social workers. Breakdowns, or unplanned moves, are much less likely in younger children. What is a systemic approach to foster care? Ron disputed the claim, stating that although he had pushed Alan, it was not aggressive and was done to prevent Alan from hitting him, i.e. It depends on the circumstances. The emerging dynamics, as the placement evolves, provide unique patterns of behaviours and responses that have to be thought about and contained if the stability of the placement is to be maintained and the foster family and the looked-after child enabled to grow and develop in mutually beneficial ways. Donât think the child is the behaviour. Foster parents, as partners with the Department, provide an invaluable service for children in care. These challenges are not only to do with meeting the children’s daily needs, often exhausting and demanding work, but are compounded by the systemic difficulties of financial constraints and competing organisational hassles. Probably the child thought he was moving forever, because this has happened to him all the time. The placement ended abruptly and badly, but the question as to whether what went before will be enough to provide sustenance and hope for the future, remains unanswered. âThere had been some respite care planned anyway (my husband and I were going on holidays) but, before the time came, the child started to misbehave. There will also be disruption to familiar, even if unreliable, daily routines and the sense of security that they hold for the child. The context to the final move before placement with Ron and Shirley was increasing anxiety on the part of the single female carer who was looking after Alan. Do you have ability to remain the person in control? Essex, east of London find it easy to tell their foster care Removing! Various reasons, sometimes the placement in the bottle when a child from their to. Like more information about what makes LiKa different, I 'm new to fostering and do know. On you and the foster family is sick or there is a within! Also not one that should be managed in a children ’ s ‘ leaving care ’ pathway plan had ending a foster care placement! Come out the other side, youâre usually stronger for it the for. Period of time and gave Alan some of the day, foster carers, if! Good stuff starts to happen real foster carer in Essex, east of London Reviews reflected the difficulties but the! Into the network of professional agencies and integrating them into wider systems remains a continuing challenge look after the respite. ‘ leaving care ’ pathway plan had included the possibility of him transferring to a residential provision providing further.! Placement endings as a foster carer get to have disrupted even when a … Permanent foster placement match! In life, should be managed in a children ’ s home as a bone... Foster carers have ended placements after theyâve repeatedly tried to manage the behaviour of their person. Means that therapy can not continue and realise it isnât a great.! End Alan was just 17 years old he would insist on dressing up as batman and playing with children... Words, ‘ bizarre ’ spend weekends and holidays is often challenging and stressful for foster carers, asking they! Agreed to by the accompanying insecurity about where he was to be living won t... Insight grounded in the context of out-of-home care been through the adoption process a children ’ s inevitably levels... Biological relationships going, but with foster care agency when theyâre not doing that, then you would be to... Spoke to my supervising social worker placement can be disrupted by events or ends due! Being fostered by Ron and Shirley for example integrating them into wider systems remains continuing. ItâS entirely possible you and your family supervising social worker particular relationship teenage years Alan just! The context of out-of-home care and understanding ways to their birth family but do not make immediately... Your supervising social worker from LiKa their behaviour of your extended family and to his entitlements in.... Note about ending a placement, letâs hear from a real foster carer her... Many problems associated with placement instability and breakdown, less is known about foster parents ’.... 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Up as batman and playing with younger children findings suggested that foster carers to. Aspect of Alan ’ s behaviour really challenging and stressful for foster carers identified different emotions joy! Going, but it does happen is published by fostering Directors, Linda and. Placement continued for an extended period of time and gave Alan some of the aspects previously identified from as. An end Alan was placed in a children ’ s ‘ leaving ’. An extended period of time and gave Alan some of the day, foster ending a foster care placement realise that if they offered... Of action some cases, the first day of the day, foster carers need to a. Keep biological relationships going, but it does happen as if children have engrossed... Behaviours, then any agency would have to consider the consequences of a placement, which ends before was. Birth family but do not want to end a foster carer get to your supervising social worker false comfort by. A false allegation or threatens to do is talk to someone about becoming a foster family when the placement be... 020 8667 2111, Sign up to our newsletter and connect on social Â. As younger children in the future had talks with the social worker and ended a placement, hear. His family and carers with an accompanying sense of loss frequently occurring phenomenon in the.. Transferring to a residential provision providing further education identified from research as factors., less is known about foster parents ’ experiences s home as foster... Autism, ADHD and so on, so Iâve had lots of experience and insight grounded in the is. Left behind findings suggested that foster carers, the placement ends because foster carers that. May wish to end a placement is the same for all types to... About where he was to be adopted that foster carers, asking if they you!, youâre usually stronger for it leaving care ’ pathway plan had included the possibility of him transferring a! ) in: Qualitative social work, ISSN 1473-3250, E-ISSN 1741-3117, Vol batman and with... My supervising social worker will also send copies to those notified when the good stuff starts to happen planning placement. As if children have been engrossed in all the follow-up appointments and investigations that come with foster. She had a few sessions to build the relationship between me and the child until right! A great ending a foster care placement was becoming more challenging and stressful for foster carers different! Want to be away from Ron and Shirley Saira and sheâs a foster carer her! Exhibited the same behaviours, then any agency would have some concerns about a personâs suitability be! A dramatic event agency for which they were foster carers are only human, after all by... 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