Family Time with Parents / Carers / Siblings and Others

Also see: Section 5, Cancellation, Suspension or Termination of Family Time.

NOTE: As part of the placement planning process, the social worker should consult the home’s manager to ensure that proper arrangements are in place for the child to have Family Time with his/her family and significant others; particularly when the child is placed at a distance away from their family home. No Family Time may be permitted between children and their parents, friends or relatives (which include grandparents and half siblings) without the approval of the social worker, and must be consistent with arrangements outlined in the child's Care Plan.

For many children, relationships with members of their family, previous carers, friends and others are incredibly important. Family Time can help children and young people develop their sense of identity and better understand their lives, as well as helping to support successful placements.

One of the key principles of the Children Act 1989 is the presumption that there should be continued Family Time between the child and their family while the child is in the care of the local authority (unless it is not reasonably practicable or consistent with the child’s welfare). The responsible authority has a duty to endeavour to promote Family Time between the child and:

• Their parents;
• Any person who is not a parent but who has Parental Responsibility for the child; and
• Any relative, friend or other person connected with the child.

Family Time arrangements should be focused on, and shaped around, the child’s needs. The social worker should, as part of the assessment process, identify those people who the child wants to maintain Family Time with.

Arrangements for Family Time will be set out in the child's Care Plan, and must take account of any Child Protection Plan or Family Time Order that may be in force.

So far as it is reasonably practicable, the wishes and feelings of the parents and the child’s carers must be ascertained before a decision about Family Time arrangements is made.

The purpose of the Family Time and how it will be evaluated must be made clear in the plan. Family Time arrangements should be focused on, and shaped around, the child’s needs. The child’s welfare is the paramount consideration at all times and each child’s wishes and needs for Family Time should be individually considered and regularly assessed and reviewed. The wishes and feelings of the child should be ascertained, wherever possible, using advocacy and communication services if necessary.

Both direct and indirect Family Time arrangements should always be clearly detailed setting out how Family Time will take place, the venue, the frequency and how the arrangements will be evaluated and reviewed. The use of mobile communication should also be considered.

Maintaining Family Time with siblings from both the same or different parents who cannot be placed together should be prioritised. Independent Reviewing Officers should ensure that Looked After Reviews consider whether Family Time arrangements including sibling Family Time in Care Plans has been implemented and that the child is happy with the Family Time – both its frequency and its quality. The IRO should inform the child that they can access Advocacy Services if they have a complaint.

Face to face meetings and visits will generally be the best way of maintaining relationships, but other means such as letters, mobile communication, photograph exchanges etc. should be borne in mind. Responsible authorities and carers should work together to explore how electronic media can support positive relationships for children. Children should be supported to ensure they are safe online rather than this form of Family Time being avoided. It may be useful to encourage young people to share details of how they communicate with others (this may include mobile phones or other social networking sites and apps  and consoles  such as Xbox or PlayStation) and an agreement reached between the young person, social worker and foster carer about how safely to do this.

The need to supervise Family Time should be considered as part of the assessment and planning process by the social worker and his/her manager. It is the responsibility of the child’s social worker to ensure that the person(s) supervising Family Time is appropriately skilled and experienced to do so.

The primary focus of the assessment of this issue will be the safety and welfare of the child.

Where supervised Family Time is deemed necessary, the reasons should be clearly recorded and the role of the supervisor or supervisors clearly defined.

A written risk assessment must be completed before supervised Family Time begin.

This assessment must take account of all factors that could impact on the success of supervised Family Time and relevant safeguards including:

1. Any history of abuse or threats of abuse to the child, carers, staff or others;
2. Previous threats to disrupt Family Time or failure to cooperate with conditions agreed for supervised Family Time;
3. Previous incidents or threats of abduction;
4. Previous incidents of coercion or inappropriate behaviour during Family Time;
5. The transient or unsettled lifestyle of the parents;
6. The child’s behaviour and needs, including medical needs.

Where any of the above features in the risk assessment, and supervised Family Time is to continue, the risk assessment must state the specific measures to be put in place to minimise risks. The assessment must then be approved and signed by the social worker's Team Manager.

Where supervised Family Time takes place, the detailed arrangements for the supervision must be set out in the Placement Plan.

In addition, there should be a written agreement with the parents and other relevant parties having supervised Family Time, signed by them, which should state clearly any specific conditions relating to the Family Time and any expectations placed on the parents or relevant parties: 

• The agreement should be clear about where the Family Time must take place and whether any flexibility is allowed for activity or movements within or away from the agreed location;
• It should also be clear about whether the person(s) having Family Time are permitted to give the child food, drinks, gifts or money during Family Time;
• It should state clearly the circumstances in which Family Time will be terminated.

The agreement should state the adults who will be allowed to attend for supervised Family Time and supervisors should be asked to apply that strictly.

Particular attention should be given to when and how visits are ended. It may be more appropriate that all “goodbyes” take place indoors.

Significant changes to Care Plans, court proceedings and/or decisions made about the frequency of future Family Time are all likely to be potential tension points so extra vigilance should apply at any Family Time arranged around these times.

The staff and any other person involved in the supervision of the Family Time should have copies of the Placement Plan and the agreement with the parents or relevant adults.

Where possible, those supervising the Family Time should be known to the child and the family before the supervised Family Time takes place.

In the event of problems emerging, the supervisors must be clear who to Family Time and what details they will need to share.

The supervisor’s observations of the Family Time must be clearly recorded in the child’s record and shared with the parents within 3 months of the visit.

The supervisor must immediately report to the social worker any concerns about the child or parents’ conduct during the Family Time. The social worker in consultation with his/her manager should consider the need to review the risk assessment and/or the Family Time arrangements in light of the concerns expressed.

The social worker and their manager should keep Family Time arrangements, including the continuing need for supervision, under regular review.

The risk assessment in relation to the arrangements for supervising Family Time must be reviewed at least every six months, or sooner if any incident or report identifies concerns.

Where the child is the subject of a Child Protection Plan, the Family Time arrangements should also be reviewed as required in the Child Protection Plan.

Any significant reactions that the child has to Family Time should be reported to the child's social worker by those observing Family Time arrangements and/or supervisors of Family Time.

The Family Time arrangements should also be reviewed in any Placement Planning Meeting and at the child's Looked After Review.

Where a Family Time Order is in force and it is considered that the Family Time arrangements set out in the Order should be altered, the agreement of the child and the parents should be sought and legal advice should be obtained as to the need to seek a variation of the Court Order.

Family Time should never be cancelled unless there is a very good reason, e.g. it is deemed that it would not be safe for it to take place or the child / adult / sibling attending is too unwell for it to take place. Family Time should take place in accordance with the child’s Placement Plan, Court Order and any Court Directions.

Wherever possible, the staff/carer should consult the child’s social worker in advance if they consider there is a good reason to cancel the Family Time. 

If Family Time is cancelled, the social worker or, if the social worker is not available, the staff must ensure that the child and, as far as practicable, the parent or relevant adult is informed in advance and that the reason for the decision is explained. The social worker or staff should arrange an alternative Family Time.

If Family Time does not take place and consultation has not been possible with the social worker, the staff must inform the child’s social worker as soon as possible and confirm in writing the decision to cancel and the reason.

Family Time arrangements must not be withdrawn as a sanction imposed on a child.

Emergency restrictions on Family Time can only be made to protect the child from significant risk and must be notified to the Placing Authority (child's social worker) within 24 hours.