Concurrent planning

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi all

Does anyone know anything about Concurrent planning.

www.first4adoption.org.uk/being-an-adoptive-parent/fostering-options/concurrent-planning/

We have never considered it before but we are now because we think our area might do it now, they did not used to (I think). I had always assumed we would not have a baby since the mantra of the council had always been (a few years ago) there are no babies! My 5 main questions are:

1. Have you done it and how did it work out for you?
   
2. What are the 'risks'/'benefits' of this as opposed to 'regular' adoption?
   
3. How likely is it that babies will go 'back' to their birth family?
   
4. What are the implications for work leave?
   
5. Do you receive a fostering allowance?
   
   Thanks a million.
   
   Please PM me if you want to keep your answers private.

[hifi]

Hi, up to now 5 babies have gone back to BM out of about 50 placed.If you have a BM who turns up to contact it can be a slog. Our baby's BM turned up 90% of the time so they increased contact to 3 time a week and extended the hours. There are also the medical check ups and social worker meetings,it can be full on.
My company let me take the time off as adoption leave,the same as maternity.
Don't underestimate the impact on just you if the baby goes back,it impactes the whole extended family and friends.

[Italiangreyhound]

Concurrent planning does not really seem an option for us at the moment, it is too new in our area but I do feel it is the way to go for children who have a very slim chance of returning to birth parents. I can see there could be issues for birth and adoptive parents but for the child it does seem like a good option.

[drspouse]

Time off depends on the company, in a year or so you'll get proper adoption pay but for the moment it tends to be negotiating unpaid time off, then you get the fostering allowance which is a bit more generous than SAP.

If you are a foster carer you are allowed to negotiate flexible working, and flexible working can mean unpaid time off, so you do at least have the right to ask. They have to think of a darn good reason why you shouldn't get it, and from a business sense it has the same effect as adoption or maternity leave, so they'd be hard pressed to object.

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks drspouse that makes a lot of sense. In our area this doesn't seem to be an option yet but I expect others reading will be interested if it is operating where they are.