One of the hardest things young people in care may experience is moving foster placements. Sometimes this may need to happen quite quickly but in most cases, unless there is serious risk of harm, you need to be asked about your feelings, meet the foster parents and visit the home.

What are your options?

If you are told that you are moving placements but feel that whole process is moving too fast and you don’t feel listened to by your social worker then you have options.

1) Quote the law! Section 22 (4) of the Children’s Act 1989 says:

‘Before making a decision with respect to a child whom they are looking after, or proposing to look after, a local authority shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ascertain the wishes and feelings of

(a) the Child’

2) Contact an Advocate and we can support you

3) Make a formal complaint. Whilst the complaint is being looked into the decision to move you should be frozen. In DfES guidance to local authorities ‘Getting the Best from Complaints’ (Section 6.5, p.28) it says:

6.5.1 if the complaint is about a proposed change to a care plan, a placement or service, the decision may need to be deferred (frozen) until the complaint is considered.

6.5.2 Decisions need to be made on a case-by-case basis, but there should generally be a presumption in favour of freezing, unless there is a good reason against it (for example, if leaving a child or young person where they are would put them at risk).

4) Speak to the Children’s Legal centre on 0207 5801 664. They can offer you advice on what you can do.

5) You could refuse to move placement but we suggest getting some legal advice on this first.