Early Permanence

[gotasweaton]

Hi everyone, I am hoping those with recent experience of EP could give me some insight please. My husband and I are going to Panel next week (hurrah!) and will hopefully be dual approved. In regards to EP and the current Covid-19 situation, what is the protocol for child's contact with birth parent(s)? Obviously this is incredibly important for both child and birth parent but is this risk assessed on an individual basis until further notice or is it 'business as usual'? Many thanks in advance.

I understand it's business as usual.. birth parents still have joint responsibility with the LA for the child and if they want the visits then they are apparently going ahead.. albeit with special measures- social distancing, clean hands etc etc

We are having virtual contact at the moment by Zoom. It is still hosted and managed by a contact supervisor. They will have to find some way to facilitate contact at the moment whether it is extra hygiene measures and distancing or technology enabled. You will be informed how the particular LA are proceeding before a child is placed with you.

Congratulations and good luck for panel

We have been doing contact via FaceTime in our LA for the past 13 weeks. Mostly facilitated by foster carers.

Hi, There is no face to face contact in our county. For EP children it's done through Skype for Business. I am very surprised that you are having contact via Zoom SFCA. My LA have decided Zoom isn't secure enough.

In my area children in proceedings (so both EP babies and babies & older children in traditional foster placements) are having face to face contact - some at a lower frequency than normal with virtual contact in between. Babies and children with final orders in place aren't having face-to-face.

From what I'd heard, most places outside London are "business as usual", but I don't know how true that is.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply - very useful to know.