Mother and baby fostering

[karin73]

Hi does anyone know of any books or publications re the process including the legal side. First time we have done this type of placement and so far LA totaly unforthcoming. We work through an agency and they are new to it too. Any help would be appreciated.

Not sure it's very much about legalities but this is an interesting link? www.ivillage.co.uk/fostering-teenage-mothers/81786

Karin - I don't understand why LA are totally unforthcoming. They must surely have "purchased" this mother and baby placement from the IFA you work for. If they did so, they must know what they want you to do. It is usually to supervise the mother with the baby and make copious notes, but each mother and baby placement is different. You need to get on to the LA who set up this placement with you and get a written contract about what they expect you to do and what they will be doing in return in terms of support. The IFA needs to be involved in this meeting too. Otherwise it sounds as though this could be a potentially dangerous placement. By that I mean I have known some M & B plcts where foster carers have been asked to do very close supervision and not let the mother out with the baby alone, but sometimes it is support and monitoring. If the social worker doesn't know what he/she wants and the IFA accepted the case without knowing what was expected, then how are you supposed to know?

My understanding of M & B placements is that they are requested by the court for a specified length of time eg. 3 or 4 months. During this period the foster carer does have to take more of a social worker's role because the foster carer has to monitor the care provided by the parent to their baby and support the observations with copious notes.

The foster carer takes instruction from the court as to what is required and the level of supervision needed.

But the Mother and foster carer need to know exactly who is doing what so it seems more than a little odd that neither you nor the IFA have any information.

They don't have to be requested by the court Fostering. This usually happens (at the final hearing) if the court think that the the birth parents have not had the chance to prove their ability (or otherwise) to provide good enough parenting. I have never known a case where foster carers take instructions from the court as to what is required and the level of supervision needed. This is a matter for the social workers/guardian when the LA are in proceedings, rather than for the court.

In my experience they are more usually used once care proceedings have been initiated and whilst the assessment is on going. It is a good way for the LA to assess (via the foster carers) whether the parents can adequately care for the child. I think great care has to be taken with approving carers as M & B or M & Parents because it is essential that they are non judgemental and are willing to give the young parents a chance, and have a warm and welcoming personality, and that they can keep meticulous records, so it's a big ask really.

Sometimes they are used when care proceedings haven't been initiated but there is a slight concern about mother's ability and if it turns out that there is in fact some major concerns, then this can be the basis on which care proceedings are initiated.

I am amazed that no one seems to know what they are doing in the OPs case though - dangerous professionalism!!