What contact might an infant have with their birth family?

An infant’s contact arrangements are set out in their written care plan and may be influenced by court directions. The plan should explain who the infant sees, where contact takes place, how it is supervised, how often it is offered, and who is responsible for organising each visit. These arrangements are reviewed as the infant’s needs and circumstances change.

Contact may involve one or both birth parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents or other people who are important to the infant. The people included, and the type of contact offered, depend on the infant’s relationships, history, safety assessment and legal arrangements. Contact with siblings may be especially important where children are living in different foster homes, although each child’s needs still have to be considered separately.

For an infant, contact is usually planned around feeding, sleep, medication and other care needs. A visit may take place in a family centre, another agreed venue or, where assessed as suitable, in a community setting. The plan should also cover practical details such as travel, handovers, who attends, what equipment is needed and what happens if a visit has to be changed.

Supervised contact means that an approved person remains present throughout the visit and observes the interactions. Supported contact provides assistance where needed, while allowing the family greater independence. The level of oversight can be reviewed if there are concerns about safety, the infant’s responses or the adults’ ability to follow the agreed arrangements.

Some contact may be indirect rather than in person. This can include letters, photographs, updates or video calls, where appropriate and authorised. Indirect contact is not suitable in every situation and should follow the care plan, particularly where information about the infant, foster home or birth family needs to remain confidential.

Foster carers are expected to help the infant attend planned contact and to share relevant observations with the social worker. They can record practical information such as whether the infant was settled before the visit, how they responded afterwards, feeding or sleep changes, and any safeguarding concerns. These records should be factual rather than judgemental and should not be used to coach the infant or influence their response to family members.

Contact can be complicated for an infant because visits may affect their routine or lead to changes in behaviour, feeding or sleep. A carer should respond calmly, maintain familiar routines and report significant concerns through the agreed professional channels. If a birth family member does not attend, arrives unexpectedly or asks to change the arrangements, the foster carer should follow the care plan and contact the supervising social worker rather than making private agreements.

Contact arrangements may change if a court makes a new direction, if the care plan is amended, or if assessments show that a different approach is needed. A change may involve adjusting the venue, supervision, duration or frequency, or considering whether indirect contact is more appropriate. Foster carers should be given clear instructions about any change and should raise questions with the child’s social worker or their supervising fostering professional.

Foster carers do not normally make independent decisions about stopping or extending contact. Their role is to follow the authorised plan, support safe arrangements and provide accurate information about the infant’s welfare. Any concern about a visit should be reported promptly so that the responsible professionals can decide whether the arrangements need to be reviewed.