Contact visits are a very important part of the work of foster care, often being one of the most important and sometimes the most stressful. With a little preparation the contact visits can be managed and be a positive experience for all concerned.
Prepare the Child Beforehand
If the child is old enough have a conversation with them the morning of the visit. This should be a short and calm conversation. Explain who they are going to see, where they are going and for how long. Try not to build the child’s hopes too much in the days before the visit. Also avoid discussing the negative aspects of the birth parents with them in the days before as this can cause them much anxiety.
Pack Thoughtfully
Make sure the child has things with them to settle, such as a favourite snack or toy, or even a change of clothes. For very young children, a familiar cup and small soft toys are best to take to contact. It’s also worth finding out from your supervising social worker whether it would be appropriate for the child to take into contact any items that they have made for the birth parents, such as drawings or photos.
Support Birth Family Members Too
A little courtesy can go a long way and for contact visits it is helpful to maintain a calm and constructive atmosphere. Foster carers involved in Foster Care Neath placements report of the importance of a ‘warm greeting’ at the start of a contact visit.
For more information on contact visits and other areas of Foster Care policy for looked after children in Wales please see the Welsh Government’s foster care website – in particular the section on children’s rights and how contact is managed.
Keep a Brief Record Afterwards
Record the child’s behaviour before, during and after contact visit. (E.g. how the child was before visit, how child was during visit, and how child was after visit. I.e. child’s mood, child’s appetite, child’s sleep etc. and any relevant comments by child). This will be useful evidence if any concerns arise in future.
More on Foster Care Neath can be found at saferfostering.org.uk/foster-care-wales/neath.
All foster carers require practice and support in respect of contact visits, however with a little preparation they can become manageable.
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