How is family contact managed in social services fostering?

Family contact in social services fostering is managed as part of the child’s overall care plan. The local authority considers the child’s relationships, wishes, emotional needs and safety, then sets out how contact should take place and who is responsible for each part of the arrangement. The plan should be clear enough for the child, their family and foster carers to understand what is expected.

Contact can include time with parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents or other significant people. Depending on the circumstances, it may involve:

• face-to-face visits at a family home, contact centre, foster home or another agreed venue;
• supervised or supported sessions where a member of staff or another agreed adult is present;
• telephone or video calls;
• letters, cards, photographs or other indirect communication; and
• contact between siblings who are living in different placements.

The form of contact is not decided simply by what is most convenient. Social workers consider the child’s age, development, attachment to family members, previous experiences, views and current circumstances. They also consider whether contact is likely to support the child’s wellbeing or cause distress, and whether any risks need to be managed.

In some cases, the court will make an order about contact. A court order may set conditions that the local authority, family and foster carers must follow. Where there is no specific court direction, the local authority still has to make contact decisions in line with the child’s welfare and relevant legal duties. Foster carers should follow the agreed plan rather than making separate arrangements with family members.

The child’s social worker normally coordinates contact with the child’s family and foster carer. The foster carer may be asked about practical matters, such as how the child reacts before and after visits, whether travel is manageable and what support the child needs. This information helps the social worker understand whether the arrangement is working, but it does not make the foster carer responsible for deciding the contact plan.

Before contact begins, the adults involved should know the important practical details. These may include:

• the date, time and length of the session;
• where the child should be taken and collected;
• who may attend;
• whether the session is supervised and by whom;
• what happens if a family member is late or does not attend;
• how changes or cancellations should be reported; and
• what information can be shared during the visit.

Foster carers are usually expected to help the child attend contact and to provide calm, age-appropriate support before and afterwards. A child may show mixed feelings, become unsettled or ask difficult questions. Carers should listen without criticising the child’s family, avoid making promises about future arrangements and pass relevant observations to the social worker. They should also respect the child’s privacy and avoid discussing confidential information with people who are not involved.

Contact arrangements may need additional safeguards. For example, supervision may be used where there are concerns about a family member’s behaviour, the child’s vulnerability, allegations, substance misuse, unsafe adults or the possibility of an attempt to remove the child without permission. The supervising adult is responsible for following the agreed rules and recording what happened. A foster carer should not independently reduce, extend or change supervised contact, even where a session appears to be going well.

Digital contact requires the same care as face-to-face contact. Social workers and foster carers may need to agree which devices or accounts can be used, whether calls are monitored, and whether photographs, locations or personal details may be shared. Children should be helped to understand online safety and what to do if a message or call makes them uncomfortable. Family members should not normally use online contact to arrange private meetings or pass on information that conflicts with the care plan.

Contact is recorded so that the local authority can identify patterns and respond appropriately. Records may cover attendance, the child’s presentation before and after contact, notable comments, any incidents and whether agreed boundaries were followed. Foster carers should write factual observations rather than assumptions or judgements. If a child discloses a safeguarding concern, appears frightened or is harmed, the foster carer should follow the placement’s reporting procedure and contact the child’s social worker or the relevant emergency service where necessary.

Arrangements are reviewed when the child’s circumstances change, when the care plan is reviewed or when evidence suggests that contact is not meeting the child’s needs. A review may lead to more or less supervision, a different venue, changes to frequency, additional preparation for the child or a different form of communication. The child’s views should be sought in a way suited to their age and understanding, and their wishes should be considered alongside safety and welfare information.

Family contact can be complex, particularly when a child feels loyal to several people or has experienced disrupted relationships. Foster carers are not expected to resolve disagreements between adults. Their role is to follow the agreed arrangements, support the child’s day-to-day wellbeing, keep appropriate records and share concerns with the professionals responsible for the child’s care.