Planning contact in the context of permanence is a complex and challenging area for social workers, and there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that many struggle with this aspect of their work.

This Good Practice Guide is designed to assist social workers and managers in this difficult area. It aims to help practitioners to formulate well thought out contact plans; make informed decisions resulting in improved outcomes for children; present well-argued and reasoned justifications for the contact plans set out in written reports, including contact reports; and feel more confident in recommending particular contact plans and defending them when necessary.

Who is this book for?

The guide is aimed primarily at children’s social workers. However, it will also be of interest to adoption and fostering workers who need to ensure that when assessing and preparing permanent carers, they are doing so with a good understanding of what children in transition need.

What you will find in this book

The guide:

• sets out the history and context of contact
• considers the purpose of contact
• brings together the research evidence
• presents the legal context for each of the four countries of the UK
• looks at what should be considered when assessing and formulating a contact plan including kinship placements

It presents the issues in a way that is easily accessible to busy social workers and makes recommendations that are supported with case studies.

Read the contents page and introduction