Deadline of 26 weeks for care proceedings "could see wrong decisions taken"

The 26-week deadline for completing care proceedings set out in the Children and Families Bill risks the wrong decisions being taken for some children, the College of Social Work (TCSW) and Family Rights Group (FRG) have warned.

In a joint parliamentary briefing, the two organisations warned: “There is a genuine risk that the proposed 26 weeks could result in too much focus on procedure and not enough on the welfare of the child.”

TCSW and FRG said there were a number of good reasons why care proceedings might take longer than 26 weeks. These included “identifying suitable relatives to look after children and sustaining family support work that is achieving positive results”.

The briefing expressed concern that clause 14 (which contains the 26-week deadline) “could trump professional judgement and work against the best interests of the child”.

The two organisations called for an amendment to make it easier for professionals to recommend an extension to the time limit, where in their judgement it was needed to assure a child’s welfare.

“TCSW and the Family Rights Group urge Parliament to pause and reflect on the wisdom of including the 26 weeks target in primary legislation, potentially jeopardising children’s welfare, against the advice of many professionals in the field,” they added.

The two organisations also claimed that the introduction of a ‘foster for adoption’ system would “undermine the important role that extended family members can play in raising children in care safely and securely”.

TCSW and FRG argued that clause 1 of the Bill – covering fostering for adoption – was “unworkable”. They also called for a duty to be placed on local authorities for family placements to be explored before a fostering for adoption placement is made.

“Moreover, if there is a suitable and willing member of the family, such as a grandparent, wishing to raise a child in care, this should continue to be prioritised over placing the child for adoption,” the two organisations said, arguing that such family placements offered the same stability and continuity for a child as placing them quickly with a potential adopter.

The briefing, which can be viewed here, said: “It is critical the current reforms support relatives and friends to come forward at an early stage so that they can be assessed as potential carers. The current foster for adopt proposals could squeeze out such family placements.”