Early Permanence Carers

Becoming an early permanence carer helps to provide stability to children

About early permanence

Early Permanence (EP) is a child centred practice which initially matches approved adopters as foster carers for a child or children who have been removed from their family and whose care plan is still being decided upon.

Early permanence is an umbrella term for a type of care planning which helps a child/ren who has to be removed from their family to find a safe, stable and permanent home as quickly as possible. EP includes Fostering for Adoption and Concurrency and can be used for children of all ages where there is a high likelihood of the child/ren needing a care plan for adoption. National adoption data shows most children go on to be adopted but a small proportion will return to the care of their family. The practice aims to limit the number of moves and feelings of uncertainty that many children in care experience.

Having multiple homes and different carers can be unsettling for many children and potentially cause them to develop attachment issues and trauma. Early permanence is considered to be in the best interest of children by providing them with stability and a sense of permanency as early as possible. They will either return to their family if the court decides it is safe to do so or they will be adopted by the people who have been caring for them once the final court decision is being made.

It can be difficult for early permanence carers if the child does go back to their birth or extended family but it's important to remember that all decisions are made with the child's best interests in mind and early permanence carers are prepared and supported for this as a possible outcome of the arrangement.

Early Permanence: A Route to Adoption with Pandora Christie

This episode of the You Can Adopt podcast is hosted by radio DJ Pandora Christie, who speaks to guest Jonny about his experience of adopting through early permanence. Given Pandora’s own experience of being fostered, and Johnny’s experience of fostering and then adopting a child, this episode explores both their experiences, with a particular focus on the benefits for the child.

Listen to the Podcast Here

Early permanence carer leave and pay

Statutory adoption leave, paternity leave and pay, if eligible, can begin when an early permanence arrangement is made. If adopters chooses not to take adoption and paternity leave at this point, they may take leave at the point when the child is matched with them for adoption, which may be some months later. Adopters are eligible for only one set of adoption and paternity leave per placement.

Taking adoption leave at the later 'matching' date may affect statutory adoption pay. This is based on the final 8 weeks’ salary before taking adoption leave, so an early permanence carer who takes unpaid leave while fostering will be eligible for statutory adoption leave but not statutory adoption pay.

While fostering, an early permanence carer will be entitled to financial support through fostering allowances, which must be paid regardless of whether they receive adoption pay.

For further information on adoption leave and pay please see here.

Frequently asked questions from early permanence carers

Who decides whether the child should be adopted or not?

Does early permanence pre-empt the court decision?

Early permanence (EP) placements are usually made when a child is already in proceedings and where, in the view of the local authority, one of the options being considered is likely to be adoption. There is always a possibility that other relatives may come forward, or that the court may decide that the child should return to the care of a parent or family member.

It is essential that all early permanence arrangements are transparent and that the parents and any members of the extended family involved are kept informed about the nature of the placement and treated with respect. Parents are entitled to legal representation during these proceedings.

It is also possible to place a child with EP carers when the child’s parents have requested that the child be placed for adoption and have considered through counselling the implications of their plan. It is always a possibility that parents may change their mind and withdraw consent. EP carers should be made fully aware of the parents’ rights in this regard before accepting such a placement (see section below on Section 20 and early permanence).

In all EP placements that are in care proceedings the Children’s Guardian will make his or her own assessment and recommendation to the court. The judge will make the final decision and the decision of the court is not pre-empted.

How are early permanence carers prepared?

Information about Early Permanence (EP) should be included in all stages of the recruitment and preparation of adopters. Carers need to understand the benefits of EP for both the child and themselves. They also need to understand their role as foster carers while court proceedings are ongoing. They must accept the risk that in some cases the child will be returned to the care of a parent or extended family member.

Those who decide they want to be EP carers (or those approved adopters who may be approached to consider being an EP carer of a particular child), should attend preparation training or receive a bespoke programme if specialist prep groups are not available. These preparation groups should offer the opportunity to meet an experienced EP carer, and include information about the role of EP carers, working with birth parents, and managing contact arrangements.

How are early permanence carers assessed?

EP carers need to be prepared and assessed as adopters. In addition their assessment should include discussion of how they would manage the fostering role and the risk of a child not remaining with them where adoption is not the outcome of the court decision. It is also important to discuss the carer’s support network, their attitudes to birth families, and issues surrounding contact management.

How does contact work in an Early Permanence placements?

It is in most children’s best interests to maintain relationships with their birth (or wider) family and this is no different with Early Permanence (EP) arrangements. During the fostering phase, an EP carer will usually take the child to a contact centre where contact will be supervised by a professional. The EP carer will be supported to understand the reporting required by their local authority and a contact book should be used to facilitate communication between the parents and the EP carers. Support for carers is important, to promote understanding and empathy for the parents’ difficulties, and to understand and respond to children’s complex emotional responses to family time. social workers may need to provide an increased level of support to early permanence foster carers and contact centre workers should be trained in early permanence and understand the key differences between an early permanence placement and a general fostering one

What is Fostering for Adoption?

Foster for Adoption placements can be used for children in care of any age, where there is a high likelihood that the child could be placed for adoption.

Many agencies run preparation groups for those considering Fostering for Adoption where these issues are carefully discussed to help you consider if this route to adoption is right for you. You would also have the opportunity to discuss this further with your social worker so that you can be clear about the task you would be undertaking.

What is Concurrent Planning?

Concurrent Planning is for babies and young children under two years old in care who are likely to need adoption, but who still have a chance of being reunited with their birth family. Concurrent carers are dually approved as both foster parents and adoptive parents and perform the role of foster carers while the courts decide whether or not a child can return to its birth family.

Become an EP Carer: Find Your Local Adoption Agency Here