Working Together
Working together
It is important that you provide as much information as possible about your child. It is also important that the carers keep you informed.
It is essential that you give the private foster carers an address and phone number where you can be contacted at all times. The Children and Young People's Service will also need this information.
As well as providing information you should give the private foster carers items which may help your child settle in a new home. These could be photographs of home and family, toys or other special items.
The private foster carers should be told of any routines your child had at home, as these will help the child to settle and to feel more secure in their new home.
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The Placement Agreement
There should be an agreement drawn up between carers and parents giving details of the arrangements and making it clear who is responsible for what, for instance medical arrangements. The social worker can offer advice on this, and a form for the placement agreement is provided by the Children and Young People's Service. Using the form will ensure that everybody concerned is clear about how long the child will be fostered, what the financial arrangements will be, when and how often visiting will take place.
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How does your child feel?
When children are separated from their parents or carers, and move to a new home, they experience a number of different feelings. These may include feelings such as loss, confusion, anger and sadness.
Because of this, the private foster carers will need to be particularly sensitive and considerate until the child settles into their home. The child may display unusual behaviour because of how he/she feels. Bedwetting, temper tantrums or withdrawn behaviour are all common. If the private foster carers find the child’s behaviour very difficult to cope with they should talk to you or consult their social worker, GP or health visitor, who will provide advice on how best to deal with this.
Try to visit the private foster home with your child several times before the placement is made, as this will help the child to settle when he/she does move. Children should be allowed and encouraged to have regular visits with their parents and contact by phone and letter during the placement, so that they do not feel unwanted and abandoned.
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Keeping in touch
Visiting arrangements should be clear to private foster carers, parents and the child before the placement begins. Everyone must be committed to keeping these arrangements.
It is important that you stay in touch with your child and their carers throughout the placement, so you know their day to day routine and progress and so that you can discuss any decisions which need to be made.
At the end of the placement, spend some time planning for your child’s return to you so that everybody can adjust to the idea of the child moving and prepare for the move.
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Making the placement work
It is important that you work together with the private foster carers and social worker to make sure that the placement is as successful as possible for your child.
It is helpful to have a clear agreement before the placement, which is why Nottinghamshire Children and Young People's Service encourage the use of the agreement form we provide.
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Children and young people 
