The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force in 2009 and introduced the new Permanence Orders. A Permanence Order (PO) allows parental responsibilities and parental rights relating to residence and guidance to pass to the local authority and allow other parental responsibilities and rights to be granted to appropriate people, including foster carers. P O are designed to provide long-term security for children who cannot live with their birth family.
In 2011 FCA Scotland recognised we had many children in placements whose permanence care plans had drifted and we concentrated on working with local authorities to progress these plans. Now in 2017 we have secured permanent placements for more than 50% of our children and young people with their current FCA Scotland carers.
This year we launched our permanent fostering service called ‘Forever Families’. This means we are recruiting permanent carers from the outset. This development has led us to further consider the implications for ‘Continuing Care’ as young people reach the age of independence.
This plenary session will chart our Permanence journey and share experiences of staff, foster carers and their families and most importantly the young people.
Quote from permanently placed young person in FCA Scotland
“I don’t know where I would be without (the carers). When I came to the placement I was being badly bullied because I looked such a state- my teeth and skin were a mess and I looked really young. I didn’t have enough to eat and no-one looked after me. I had head-lice and so did (sibling). We were a mess. But look at us now, we are doing great.... I think (sibling) would have been dead by now if (the carers) didn’t look after us... she was so behind. I say to her that I wish I had that help when I was 9.”
