Matching and Introductions

It is Manchester’s policy to hold a Linking Meeting prior to any match of a child and potential adopters, even if there is only one family identified.

Following the Family Finding Meeting the Family Finder will find families (in – house or inter agency) who meet the child’s identified needs.

When a family/ families are identified, the child’s social worker will be invited into the office to read the relevant PARs. Following discussion between the child’s social worker and family finder, if it is considered that one or more families are appropriate a Linking Meeting will be arranged.

CHAIR – Linking Meetings should be chaired by the Adoption Team Manager or one of the Advanced Practitioners.

The family finder is responsible for inviting to the meeting:

• The child’s social worker;
• The child’s current foster carer(s). If the foster carer cannot attend the meeting they should be asked for a written update on the child(ren);
• The foster carer’s support worker;
• The supervising social worker/s for the chosen adopted family/families;
• Any relevant other, psychologist, teachers etc.

In certain circumstances, prospective adopters may be invited to attend the Linking Meeting. This would usually be in a case where children have very specific identified needs.

The family finder should also book a room and a minute taker (e-mail to Business Support).

NOTE: Linking Meetings can only take place once a Placement Order or Section 19 Parental Consent has been obtained. The only exceptions to this are:

• Where a child has a half or a full sibling already in an adoptive placement and it is proposed that the siblings are placed together;
• Where the plan for the child is adoption by the current foster carer.

Format of Linking Meeting

The chair will ask social worker, foster carer and any relevant other for updated information since the family finding meeting and clarify the outcome of the tasks identified at that meeting. They will then clarify the child/ren’s identified needs in light of the updated information.

For confidentiality reasons, when the meeting moves on to discuss individual families, the child’s foster carer(s) will be asked to leave the meeting.

The family finder will be asked to provide a brief summary of the family finding that has taken place and identify any barriers to family finding.

The meeting will then move on to discuss those families presented.

Each family will be considered in turn and their strengths and vulnerabilities identified in relation to the child/ren’s identified needs. These will be recorded on the Linking matrix and discussed. The family who most meets the identified needs of the child will be chosen. This will be recorded on the Linking Meeting proforma.

Areas of potential vulnerability of the link and areas for additional discussion with the prospective adopters will be identified along with the need for financial support, preparation work with the children and meetings the prospective adopters need to attend. An action plan will be drawn up.

A date for the link to be presented at Adoption Panel will be agreed at the end of the meeting.

NOTE: If the identified family does not wish to go ahead with the match, family finding will continue. However if another family who was discussed at this meeting was also considered a suitable match it there is no need to reconvene another Linking Meeting.

The supervising social worker for the chosen prospective adopters will now be responsible for the child on Liquidlogic and complete the following paperwork to present to adoption panel:

• Adoption Placement Report;
• Delegation of Parental Responsibility;
• Adoption Support Plan;
• Confirmation of Information on Match.

Minutes of the Linking Meeting also need to be submitted to panel for the match.

It is the SSW’s responsibility to request adoption financial support (if needed) and this should be agreed prior to panel for inclusion in the Adoption Support Plan.

NOTE: In the case of Inter Agency placements the family finder will complete the above paperwork including requests for financial support and submit the relevant paperwork to panel.

Placement Planning Meetings are always held to plan the introductions of the child/ren to their new family. They are formal meetings to discuss what needs to be done to facilitate the child’s move and to define respective roles and responsibilities as well as details and dates and times of the move. These meetings are held at the Adoption Team’s offices.

These meetings are chaired by the Adoption Team Manager or Advanced Practitioners and should be attended by:

• Prospective adopters;
• Supervising social worker for adopters;
• Child’s social worker;
• Foster carer;
• Foster carer’s supervising social worker.

Placement planning meetings can be arranged before Panel but can only take place after Panel. Introductions cannot start without the Agency Decision Maker’s decision.

The basis for the Placement Planning Meeting is the APPA Adoption Placement Plan and Agreement. This should be completed as much as possible beforehand by SSW and sent to the family in advance of the meeting. They should also send Letter to Adopters Proposed date of Placement (Adoption doc 7) which needs to be signed by the adopters before introductions take place.

NOTE: The APPA contains a list of documents that need to be given to the adopters so the child’s social worker and Adopter’s SSW should make sure they have them to give to the Adopters at the meeting.

The chair of the Planning meeting will go through the APPA and will discuss and clarify any outstanding issues which will be recorded. This will include the dates of visits by social worker and the date of the first adoption review.

Following the meeting the amendments to the APPA will be typed up and the SSW will take a copies to the Review of Introductions for all parties to sign. The adopters will retain a copy and a signed signature sheet should be uploaded onto Liquidlogic on the child’s records.

The meeting will then plan the introductions and these will be recorded on the Introductions chart. Usually there will have been some prior discussion as to when introductions should start and when placement day will be.

All introduction plans should include a review at which the child’s social worker and adopters SSW should attend along with foster carer and prospective adopters. This usually takes place at the foster home. This meeting will review the introductions so far and confirm the date of placement.

The child’s social worker should be present when the adopters meet the child and should liaise with the foster carer during the course of introductions to obtain their views.

The supervising social worker may be present when the adopters first meet the child and should keep in regular contact with them during the course of introductions to obtain their views.

Should there be difficulties during introductions, all parties should liaise with each other and it may be necessary to arrange a further placement planning meeting at the Adoption team office.

The child’s social worker should be present the day the child is placed to supervise ‘the handover’. If they are unavailable this should be done by the SSW or another social worker.

The child’s social worker should then record the placement on Liquidlogic and SSW inform relevant parties.