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Concurrency - also known as Concurrent Planning - is a
fostering scheme for the most vulnerable young children in local
authority care. From newborn babies up to two-year-old toddlers,
these children need to live with carers who are prepared to help
them return to their birth family if that is in the child's best
interest, or if this is unsuccessful to go on to adopt
them.
The aim is to ensure the child will be spared the distress of
moves and unnecessary delays and will have consistency of care
while the County Adoption Service assesses the birth family. We
will make a recommendation to the court, which will then make a
decision about the child's future.
The child will either return to his or her birth family or will
be adopted by the concurrent carer.
This is a very emotionally-challenging type of care because the
concurrency carers have to be able to deal with the period of
uncertain outcome before the child's future is determined. They
also have to put the child's needs first at all times, even if that
means helping the child bond with - and return to - his or her
birth parents rather than becoming the carer's adopted child in due
course. This means careful thought is essential before a carer
commits to joining the scheme.
Sensitivity and discretion are key qualities and the carer will
need to keep good records.
Normal fostering and adoption criteria apply - but there is also
an additional requirement: all concurrent carers must live within
one hour's drive of Dover.
Other types of foster care:
A Kent County Council scheme in Thanet to
make sure babies and toddlers whose parents may not be able to look
after them get the best possible start in life is one of the first
of its kind in the country. Read more on this
concurrency feature.
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