Concurrent Planning
PERMANENT FOSTER PLACEMENT
We will specifically recruit and train Foster carers who wish to extend their family by means of offering a Permanent Foster Placement to a child/young person who is unable to live within their birth family. Our assessment and training for this type of Foster Carer will be comprehensive and competency based whilst focussing on issues of attachment and identity. Unlike most family finding agencies, we do not charge a family finding fee up front and therefore there is minimal cost to the placing Local Authority. Our fee for this type of placement will reduce after a minimum of 12 months and following presentation to the Local Auithority's Permanency Panel. Should this be considered to be within the child's best interest this placement will continue at this rate supported, supervised and provided with ongoing training by Outlook Fostering Services Ltd.
SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP
After a minimum of 12 months within a Permanent Placement if it is considered to be more appropriate for the child, the Foster Carer can apply for a Special Guardianship Order. Outlook Fostering Services Ltd. will commit to supporting the process of this application and upon this being granted the BAAF interagency fee would apply.
ADOPTION
After a minimum of 12 months of Permanent Placement if it is considered to be in the child's best interest and if the Foster Carer wishes to Adopt, Outlook Fostering services Ltd. will commit to supporting the Local Authority and the Foster Carer through the process of the Adoption application. Upon the Adoption Order being granted a BAAF interagency fee will be applied.
Outcomes
All three of the above options provide the child in placement with security and knowledge that they are permanently placed with a family identified to match their long term needs. This clearly assist the child in developing self confidence, security and attachment, whilst being able to invest in the family he/she is placed with. The benefit of the Permanent Placement is that the Foster Carers have specifically come forward to enable a child/young person to join their family. Should this progress to either Special Guardianship or Adoption, all parties have had the opportunity of at least a 12 month period to assess the stability of the placement and therefore the prospects of a placement breakdown or an Adoption breakdown are greatly minimised.
During the period the young person is a Looked After Child, they would be considered to attend the activity holidays offered to Outlook children. These are designed to broaden the children's expectations and raise their self esteem. This could include a week in France for older children where they are encouraged to horse ride, canoe and climb in the Summer and to Ski and Tobbogan in the Winter. All activities are supervised by trained and qualified Instructors in addition to Outlook's own staff being resident.
Our younger children are also taken on Residential holidays where they are encouraged to take part in a programme including swimming, rock climbing, conoeing, archery and motor skills activities. Again supervised by trained and qualified Instructors in addition to Outlook's own staff being resident.
The provision of Activity Holidays is at no additional cost to the Local Authority and our Foster Carers still receive their allowance as part of their respite entitlement.