How are contact arrangements managed during foster to adopt?

Contact arrangements during foster to adopt are planned arrangements for a child to spend time with, or receive information about, their birth family while their long-term future is being considered. They may include face-to-face meetings, telephone or video calls, letters, photographs, and contact with siblings or other significant relatives. The arrangement should reflect the child’s age, relationships, needs and ability to manage contact safely.

What is considered when contact is planned?

Professionals consider the child’s existing relationship with each family member, their developmental stage, medical needs, routines and emotional responses. They also consider practical matters such as travel, the venue, who needs to supervise, how long the session should last and whether the child needs time to settle before or after contact.

For a baby or very young child, contact may need to fit around feeding, sleep and other care routines. For an older child, their views and wishes should be taken into account in an age-appropriate way. A child may have different arrangements for parents, siblings and other relatives, depending on the importance of each relationship and the professional assessment of what is safe and beneficial.

Types of contact

• Direct contact: the child meets a birth parent or relative in person. This may take place at a contact centre, a local authority venue or another agreed setting.
• Supervised contact: a trained professional or another agreed person remains present to support safety and observe the interaction.
• Supported contact: a professional may be nearby or provide assistance without necessarily supervising every part of the session.
• Indirect contact: information, letters, photographs or updates are shared through an agreed professional or service rather than through an unplanned private arrangement.
• Sibling contact: separate arrangements may be made so that brothers and sisters can maintain their relationship, including where they live in different homes.

The type of contact can change as professionals learn more about the child’s relationships and responses. It is not automatically a permanent arrangement, and a proposed adoption does not by itself mean that contact stops immediately.

The foster carer’s role

Foster to adopt carers usually help make contact manageable and predictable for the child. This can include preparing the child in a simple, age-appropriate way, bringing familiar comfort items where appropriate, following agreed handover arrangements and allowing time for the child to settle afterwards.

Carers should remain neutral and respectful when speaking about birth family members. They should not question the child in a way that feels investigative, make promises about the future or discuss adult disagreements in front of them. If a child asks questions, a simple honest response can be given, with more complex matters referred to the social worker.

Birth family members and foster carers normally communicate through the professionals and arrangements agreed for the placement. Foster carers should not create private contact arrangements, exchange personal contact details or share photographs online unless this has been specifically authorised. These boundaries protect the child’s privacy and help prevent confusion about who is responsible for organising contact.

What happens before and after a session?

Practical information should be clear before contact takes place. This may cover who will bring and collect the child, the location, the expected duration, permitted items, arrangements for missed sessions and what to do if the child becomes distressed or unwell. The adults involved should know whom to contact if an unexpected problem arises.

Afterwards, carers can help the child return to their normal routine. Some children appear unsettled, tired, withdrawn or unusually excitable after contact; others show little obvious reaction. Observations should be shared with the child’s social worker, particularly where there is a repeated pattern or a concern about the child’s welfare. A reaction does not automatically mean that contact should end, but it may indicate that the arrangements need careful review.

Keeping records

Carers should record contact accurately and promptly, following the recording method provided by the fostering service or local authority. Useful records distinguish between:

• what happened, including attendance, duration and any significant incident;
• what the child said or did, using their own words where possible;
• the child’s presentation before and after contact; and
• any action taken or information passed to the social worker.

Records should be factual rather than judgemental. For example, noting that a child cried for ten minutes and needed comfort is more useful than describing the contact as unsuccessful. Records may contribute to reviews and decisions about the child’s care, so they should be stored securely and shared only through the appropriate professional channels.

When arrangements need to change

Contact may need to be reconsidered if the child’s needs change, a session repeatedly causes significant distress, a family member’s circumstances alter or new safeguarding information emerges. Foster carers should raise concerns promptly rather than cancelling or changing contact themselves, except where immediate action is needed to protect the child. The social worker and other relevant professionals can then consider the evidence and decide whether a revised plan or further assessment is needed.

Where a court has made an order about contact, that order must be followed unless it is changed through the proper legal process. The child’s social worker can explain how the current arrangement fits with the care and legal plan, what information carers should share and who should be approached if difficulties arise.