Birth family support
Independently supporting birth relatives in
pre-adoption placements
Pre-adoption placements can be a tough time for birth relatives.
That's why we provide independent statutory support and supervision
when a child is placed in a permanent family. This is particularly
helpful if the placement is far from the placing authority.
It's important to help birth parents understand their role in the
adoption plan, maintain contact, assess adoption needs or counsel
them at the point of search and reunion. That's what we do, because
it can really make a difference. A similar service is available to
siblings, grandparents and other significant adults.
Managing and facilitating contact
We're experts at managing and facilitating contact arrangements for
families. This includes post-box services, direct contact and
reviews of arrangements as needs change. Advice, guidance, training
and reviews about managing all types of contact also form part of
our service offering.
Action for Children Birth Family Support service
This service offers birth relatives a private and safe place to
talk about the things that concern them. It's offered when Somerset
or Gloucestershire social services has an adoption plan for a child
or children in their family.
Our dedicated staff:
- listen to their feelings about the adoption, on the telephone
or face-to-face
- explain things they may want to know but have not been able to
ask
- advise on managing difficult meetings or an event they are
worried about
- support them at meetings to discuss contact or to see
prospective adopters, and at goodbye visits
- make links with other people who can support them or who have
had similar experiences
- find services and support for other problems they may have