Procedure to Change Foster Placement to Adoption Placement

When a link between a child and their existing foster carers is approved by the Agency Decision Maker – the following needs to happen to change the placement from fostering to adoption.

Arrange a Placement Planning Meeting

This needs to be held within 10 working days of the Agency Decision Maker’s decision. (It is a good idea to arrange a meeting before you go to Panel).

This should be chaired by the Adoption Team Manager or Advanced Practitioner. The child’s social worker and the supervising social worker and the child’s foster carers now referred to as Prospective Adopters should attend.

The basis for the Placement Planning Meeting is the APPA Adoption Placement Plan and Agreement (Liquidlogic document) and this should be completed as much as possible beforehand by the social worker and supervising social worker. The SSW for the family will then send this to them in advance of the meeting with Adoption Doc 7 which has to be signed by the prospective adopters before introductions take place.

NB the form contains a list of documents that need to be given to the adopters so the child’s social worker and SSW should make sure they have them ready to hand over at the meeting.

The prospective adopters will also sign Adoption Letter 8 Adoption Financial Support contract if it has been agreed. Make sure the length of time allowances have been agreed for is clearly indicated. The Letterbox Agreement - Adopters is completed and signed by the Adopters

The date of the meeting is the date the adoptive placement begins.

Social worker sets up adoptive placement on Liquidlogic.

Adoption financial support starts from this date and child benefit can be claimed from this date.

Adopters can make their application to Court to apply for an Adoption Order immediately if they want to as the child will have already lived with them for 10 weeks.

Statutory visits and Reviews will take place as for any adoptive placement.