What contact arrangements apply during emergency infant foster care?
Contact arrangements during emergency infant foster care are agreed by the placing local authority and set out in the child’s care plan, including who the infant sees, where contact takes place, how often it occurs and whether supervision is required. Foster carers follow the agreed guidance, help the infant attend contact safely and report relevant observations or concerns to their supervising social worker.
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During an emergency infant placement, contact is managed through the child’s care plan and the instructions issued by the placing local authority. Foster carers need to understand the agreed arrangements, maintain clear boundaries and provide accurate information about how the infant responds before, during and after contact.
The local authority remains responsible for decisions about contact. Foster carers do not normally decide whether contact should go ahead, negotiate changes with family members or set conditions themselves. If an arrangement becomes difficult to follow, the concern should be raised with the child’s social worker or supervising social worker so that it can be considered through the proper safeguarding and care-planning process.
Contact may be direct or indirect. Depending on the child’s circumstances, it could involve time with a parent, sibling, relative or another person identified by the local authority. Indirect contact might include letters, photographs or other approved updates. The care plan should explain what has been agreed and any restrictions that apply. Foster carers should not arrange additional communication privately or share their personal contact details unless this has been specifically authorised.
Infant care needs should be considered before each session. Babies may need feeding, a nap, a change of clothing, comfort items or prescribed medication around the time of contact. The agreed plan should make clear how these practical needs are managed. Foster carers can provide relevant routine information to the professionals involved, while ensuring that the infant’s care remains consistent and that essential items accompany the child when required.
Infants can show changes in behaviour after contact, including unsettled sleep, increased crying, changes in feeding or a need for additional reassurance. These reactions do not automatically indicate that contact should stop, and foster carers should avoid drawing conclusions about their cause. Instead, record factual observations and share them with the appropriate social worker. Details such as what happened, when the change occurred and how the infant settled are more useful than opinions about a family member’s conduct or intentions.
Arrangements can be reviewed. Contact may need to be reconsidered if the infant’s needs change, new information affects the risk assessment, a family member’s circumstances alter or professional assessments produce further information. A review might also be required where the practical arrangements cannot be followed safely. Foster carers should continue with the agreed plan unless the responsible professionals provide revised instructions, except where there is an immediate concern about the infant’s safety.
Where a court has made an order affecting contact, that order must be taken into account alongside the local authority’s care plan. Foster carers should ask the social worker to explain any part of the plan or legal direction they do not understand. It is important not to make assumptions about parental rights, future arrangements or the likely outcome of the placement.
Professional boundaries protect everyone involved. Foster carers should remain neutral, avoid discussing confidential case information and not promise parents or relatives that contact will increase, continue or lead to a particular outcome. Conversations during handovers should be limited to information relevant to the infant’s immediate care. Any safeguarding concern, attempted breach of the agreed arrangement or request for unauthorised contact should be passed to the relevant professional rather than dealt with through an informal agreement.
Privacy also applies outside contact sessions. Foster carers should not publish photographs, identify the infant online or disclose details about contact arrangements to friends, relatives or other people who are not involved in the child’s care. Information should be shared only through the channels approved by the local authority.
Before an emergency infant placement begins, carers should clarify who will organise contact, who will transport the infant if transport is required, what information can be shared with family members and who should be contacted if difficulties arise. Having these points explained in advance helps carers follow the plan consistently while keeping decisions with the professionals responsible for the child’s welfare.
Supervised contact means that an agreed professional or other authorised adult oversees the session in line with the child’s care plan. The foster carer’s role should be confirmed clearly: they may bring and collect the infant, remain nearby, or take part in the session, but should not assume responsibility for supervising contact unless this has been specifically agreed.
Before the first session, ask who the named supervisor is, what information they will provide afterwards and what procedure applies if the session is cancelled, shortened or does not follow the agreed plan. This prevents uncertainty at handover and ensures any concerns are passed to the person responsible for reviewing contact arrangements.
Ask about emergency infant foster care contact arrangements
If you are considering emergency infant fostering, speak to our fostering team about how contact arrangements are explained, reviewed and supported throughout a placement.