How is contact maintained after a foster placement ends?

After a foster placement ends, contact is maintained through an agreed plan that sets out whether communication or meetings should continue, who will arrange them and what safeguards apply. The plan is based on the child’s welfare, wishes, relationships and legal circumstances; a foster carer cannot assume that an ongoing relationship will continue automatically or make private arrangements without agreement.

The child’s circumstances determine the arrangement. Contact may be considered differently when a child returns to their parents, moves to another foster home, goes to live with relatives or enters a permanent arrangement. The child’s social worker will consider the care plan, any court directions, the views of those with parental responsibility and the child’s age, understanding and wishes. A child’s preference is important, although it must be balanced with safety and their wider needs.

Where continued contact is appropriate, the arrangement should be clear about:

• who the child may have contact with;
• whether contact will be in person, by telephone, video call, letter or another agreed method;
• where meetings will take place and whether they need supervision;
• how often contact is expected and who is responsible for organising it;
• what information may be shared about the child;
• how concerns, missed contact or changes in circumstances will be reported; and
• when the arrangement will be reviewed.

The practical details may be recorded in the child’s care plan, a transition plan or another written agreement. The exact document used can vary, but everyone involved should understand the expectations before the placement ends. Foster carers should ask the supervising social worker or the child’s social worker to explain any part of the plan that is unclear.

Contact with the child should be managed by the adults responsible for the plan. This may include the child’s social worker, the new carer, the child’s parents or other family members, depending on the situation. A former foster carer may be invited to contribute their knowledge of the child’s routines, relationships and communication preferences. They should not put pressure on the child to maintain contact, pass on messages that have not been agreed or make promises about future meetings.

For some children, a gradual handover helps preserve a significant relationship without making the ending more difficult. This could involve a planned visit, a final activity, an exchange of letters or an agreed opportunity to say goodbye. In other cases, direct contact may not be suitable. For example, it may cause distress, conflict with a court direction or create a safeguarding concern. Contact can be limited, supervised, indirect or stopped if the child’s welfare requires it.

Digital contact needs the same care as face-to-face contact. Foster carers should not share a child’s telephone number, social media details, photographs, location or personal information unless this has been specifically agreed. Children may find it difficult to understand the boundaries of messaging, particularly after a move. A written agreement can clarify whether messages are sent through an adult, how often communication takes place and what happens if a message causes concern.

Relationships can change after a placement ends. The child may need time to settle into a new home, and the former foster carer may have less information about their circumstances. The child may also change their mind about contact. The arrangement should therefore be reviewed rather than treated as permanent. A social worker may adjust the frequency, format or level of supervision in response to the child’s wishes, behaviour, safety or changing care plan.

Former foster carers should keep professional boundaries and protect confidentiality. They should avoid contacting schools, health professionals or family members about the child unless this is part of the agreed arrangement. Any concern about the child’s safety, a change in behaviour or an inappropriate message should be reported to the relevant social worker or fostering service rather than dealt with privately.

If contact becomes difficult, the former foster carer should record what happened factually and raise it through their supervising social worker. Missed visits, disagreements about arrangements or a child who appears upset may indicate that the plan needs reviewing. The aim is not to preserve contact at any cost, but to maintain a safe, consistent and child-centred relationship where that remains right for the child.