When a Child/Young Person is No Longer Going to Live with You

Usually when you have a child/young person you are caring for, it may end when:

• The child returns to their family;
• A caring situation breaks down;
• The child is moved to another family;
• The young person is old enough to live independently;
• The child/young person is adopted - either by another family, family member or possibly you.

Wherever possible when a caring situation is coming to an end, a plan should be developed to move the child/young person. The child/young person might be feeling worried about what is going to happen to them even if the move is one that they feel positive about and has been planning for some time.

You may feel anxious about the child/young person’s move too, this is natural, that’s why it is important for everyone that there is a clear plan about what will happen and who will do what. This is natural as you have been caring for this child/young person for some time and built a positive bond with them.

It is really important that you talk to your fostering social worker, especially if you think that the move is not in the child/young person’s best interests.

Useful Tips

You have an important part to play in helping the child/young person to move and should be positive about it even if it is in difficult circumstances. When you are talking to the child/young person about the move be positive about why they are moving and what will happen.

Plan "goodbyes" for friends and family members that the child/young person is close to. Pets are a huge pull for our children/young people, so plan for goodbyes with pets too.

You should put together information about the child/young person’s daily routine, likes/dislikes and any other important information that will help the new family and let the child/young person’s social worker know if you are happy to talk to the new family, parents if they return home or carers.

If the child/young person has photographs, life story book and other information about the time that they have spent with you, you should make sure that they go with them. Remember, the child/young person’s belonging are special to them and they must be packed safely in a suitcase or sturdy holdall.

Make sure you pack all important documents such as their passport, forms of ID and Bank details.

You should provide clear instructions about any medication or appointments the child may have.

The child/young person’s belongings should be moved in a suitcase or holdall.

Let the child/young person know what contact they may have with you in the future and provide them with photographs and mementoes of their time with you.

If a placement ends without this being planned, a disruption meeting may be held. A disruption meeting is an opportunity for everyone who has been involved in the child/young person’s care to look at what has happened, what went well and what could have gone better. This helps not only you, but may help the child/young person in future placements.