Probable new fostering and adoption procedures - thoughts?

[Lilka]

www.education.gov.uk/a00213927/adoptfosterconsult

Apparently despite the cabinet reshuffle adoption reforms are going full speed ahead. They are looking to implement these new procedures next year after the consultation

Proposed new guideline and procedures for fostering and adoption include:

• Two approval processes will be created - one longer process for first time adopters/foster carers and one fast track approval process for re-approval. This means second time adopters may not have to do any CRB checks or other checks they've done already etc
  

• There will be a fast track way of approving adopters for short term foster care, to enable concurrent planning
  

• A two stage approval process whereby checks and initial preparation (CRB, providing certifcates, prep group etc) is done first in 2 months, followed by 4 months ish of "intensive training" and homestudy assessment
  

• Foster carers don't have to ask permission to get their LO's hair cut or let them go to a sleepover etc
  

Couple of other things

Thoughts? I'm still formulating my own, but I do wonder whether adopters would be properly prepared for short term foster care without a full training process? And I'm not sure speeding up foster care approval will actually increase numbers of foster carers as they think - aren't there issues like spare bedrooms, working etc that are bigger hurdles for prospective carers to overcome?

The implement next year bit makes me think this may be a done deal, but maybe not

I sadly notice that once again post adoption support is not mentionned, and is sidelined. No new obligations to provide this then!

[scarlet5tyger]

Hi Lilka, thanks for summarising this for me! (see thread in fostering)

I hugely applaud the suggestion not to "re-approve" 2nd time adopters, and hope this will also apply to foster carers moving to a different area. (I am a foster carer)

Very mixed feelings about concurrent foster care. Not sure I could care for a child I expected to keep, work fairly with birth parents, get to know every one of their bad points, then for that child to be returned to them. This is difficult enough as a foster carer who expects the child to go home.

Good idea about all checks being competed before assessment begins - I've no idea why is doesn't happen already!

My biggest issue is that yet again potential adopters and foster carers seem to be being seen as one and the same thing when actually most of us are very different people. Most adopters I've met openly admit they couldn't cope with some of the children I take in (as they are when they're placed) and I freely admit I like the "task centred" element of my job - taking a child, giving it the first basic steps, then moving it on (I mostly take in drug addicted babies) And I like knowing I do have access to some support, albeit limited, as a foster carer that a lot of adopters seem to be denied.

[Tigglette]

Yeah fostering and adoption are very different tasks, the work needed to prepare a child to move on to a forever family, or to return to birth parents, is different to that needed to create a forever family for children. I'm pleased to see a reduction in aprovals needed for sleepovers etc as current rules can stigmatise children in care without providing any real safeguards. Will need to look at the rest.

[Tigglette]

Yeah fostering and adoption are very different tasks, the work needed to prepare a child to move on to a forever family, or to return to birth parents, is different to that needed to create a forever family for children. I'm pleased to see a reduction in aprovals needed for sleepovers etc as current rules can stigmatise children in care without providing any real safeguards. Will need to look at the rest.