However there are many chilren in care who have a stronger attachment to their carer than to their birth family and in these cases it would seem logical that the research relating to child and birth parent can apply and there is certainly recognition that contact between a child and those important to him are important and should therfore be continued.
Types of Contact
Contact essentially means communication between the child in question and someone else. This can be broadly
divided into two types
DIRECT CONTACT is most commonly interpreted as a face-to-face meeting which may include overnight stays. Direct contact may be SUPERVISED in some circumstances.
INDIRECT CONTACT is generally defined as all types of contact which are
not face-to-face. So these would include letters and cards, phone calls, text, email etc.
A CONTACT ORDER means an order requiring the person with whom a child lives, or is to live, to allow the child to visit or stay with the person named in the order, or for that person and the child otherwise to have contact with each other.
A recent study has
been carried out by The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence social care institute for excellence commissioned by
the Department of Health resulted in a draft guide on The physical and emotional health and wellbeing of looked-after children and
young people. The final version is currently being prepared for release on 4th Oct 2010 and the full draft guide is available
online, but below are some key extracts.
Considerations
3.7 The impact of changing the placement of a child or young person
can be less harmful if continuity is maintained in other areas of their life. For example, if they can stay at the same school, maintain
contact with their siblings, family or past residential or foster carers, or keep social and community networks including friends
and the same social worker or support team. In addition, unsettling effects can be lessened if information about the needs and preferences
of the child or young person is passed on and used to inform future placements.
Recommendations
Recommendation 9: making
decisions about placement changes
• When making decisions about moving children or young people from existing placements: - fully
take into account the wishes and feelings of a child or young person
- record the reasons for decisions taken that are not in accord
with the wishes and feelings of the child or young person
- ensure children and young people are made fully aware of their right to
access advocacy services when a review decision is likely to overrule their wishes and feelings
• Ensure the child or young person
has enough notice of any planned change to arrange for an advocate to support them in their review meeting.
• Monitor and audit the
number of decisions where placement moves are made against the wishes of a child or young person, including the reasons for such moves.
•
After any placement move ensure appropriate measures are put in place for continued contact with adults identified by the child or
young person as important, where this is desirable and practical.
Recommendation 18: meeting the individual needs and preferences
of looked-after children and young people
• Promote continued contact with former carers, siblings or family members personally valued
by the child or young person where this is felt to be in their best interests; and where this is not possible, acknowledge the significance
of losing former attachment figures and relationships.
• Promote ongoing contact with friends, and personally valued mentors, professionals
or advocates.
Recommendation 47: preparing to leave care
• Ensure children and young people leaving care are encouraged and able to
maintain contact with past carers they value.
The organisation Family Rights Group has an advice
sheet headed ‘what does research say about contact’ includes the following, backed up by many references:
The main research findings
about contact for children in the public care system show that the well-being of children who do not live with their family is improved,
in the majority of cases, if they can maintain links with their parents and other family members, for example:
* Continuing contact
is the key to children returning home early from care.
* Children do better if they are visited frequently by their family despite
the stresses that contact can bring.
* Children need contact with important people from the past in order to develop their sense
of identity that is essential for their well-being.
* Continuing contact protects children against the more adverse effects of
public care.
* There are fewer breakdowns of foster placements when contact is maintained. It is possible that many social workers
believe it is hard to find foster carers willing to encourage contact. Barriers to contact stem more from the attitudes of social
workers than foster carers.
* Continuing contact with grandparents is almost wholly beneficial, and is particularly important
for older children.
