Early Permanence is for vulnerable babies and young children in care whose circumstances are such that they have a high risk of being unable to return safely to the care of their birth families.
Some very young children may not be able to live with their birth family and they need to have the security of a loving permanent family as early as possible. It can take time whilst decisions are made about a child’s future by the Courts and usually during this time they are cared for by foster carers.
Early Permanence places a child with approved adopters who are temporarily approved as Foster Carers while the Court is considering whether they can safely return to the care of their family or whether they might need to be adopted. Children benefit enormously from the opportunity to stay (fostered) with one family who may go on to adopt them if the Court decides they cannot be safely returned to their birth family.
As emotionally resilient Early Permanence carers you will be able to put the needs of vulnerable children at the very heart of your family.
You will be supported by our expert staff every step of the way. You will complete your adoption process also undertake specialist training such as Safeguarding and Paediatric First Aid, to make sure that you are prepared for your role as a Foster Carer.
Our Early Permanence carers say that their initial caution about parenting in this way has been outweighed by the privilege of caring for a very young child who in many cases, they have then been able to adopt.
Early permanence carers are approved adopters who have the skills, emotional resilience and willingness to be able to offer a child a loving and nurturing home whilst living with the uncertainty that the child may be returned to their birth family. As well as the skills we look for in all prospective adopters, early permanence carers will be able to demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Emotional resilience
- Capacity to put the child’s needs before your own
- Ability to manage uncertainty
- Ability to work in partnership with birth parents
- Ability to support the return of the child to their birth family if it is decided this is their best interests
- Empathy for birth parents
- Strong and secure support networks
- Capacity to positively manage tension and stress
- Positive outlook
