---
title: Contact With Birth Family
description: "**Contact / Family Time with Birth Families and Friends** Maintaining safe, positive links with a child’s family is usually central to their sense of identity and long-term wellbeing. Positive Aspirations Group follows the detailed guidance in our **Contact with Birth…"
url: "https://handbook.co.uk/docs/contact-with-birth-family/"
updated: "2025-07-13"
category: Foster Carer Handbook
tags:
  - Contact
---

# Contact With Birth Family

**Contact / Family Time with Birth Families and Friends**

Maintaining safe, positive links with a child’s family is usually central to their sense of identity and long-term wellbeing. Positive Aspirations Group follows the detailed guidance in our **Contact with Birth Families Policy** to make sure every contact arrangement supports the aims of the child’s Care Plan and keeps everyone safe.

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**Who decides what contact looks like?**

- **Child’s social worker** – sets the frequency, location and supervision level, completing a written risk-assessment that is recorded in the Individual Placement Agreement (IPA).
- **Placement Planning Meeting (PPM)** – confirms these details with you before the placement starts.
- **Statutory Reviews** – revisit contact at every Looked-After Review; carers’ observations are crucial evidence.

**Important:** no contact should take place until you or your Supervising Social Worker (SSW) have been told that the risk-assessment is complete.

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**Your role as a foster carer**

1. **Clarify expectations early**
   Ask for contact details before the child arrives; raise practical questions (transport, supervision, virtual contact) at the PPM.
2. **Promote contact positively**
   Speak neutrally or warmly about the child’s family; help them choose a photo or draw a card to take to the session.
3. **Stay alert to cues**
   Note how the child feels beforehand, how the session goes, and any behaviours afterwards that seem linked.
4. **Record every session**
   In your weekly recordings include:
   - date, place and people present;
   - the child’s mood before and after;
   - anything said or done that might affect safety or wellbeing.
5. **Report problems early**
   Tell your SSW and the child’s social worker straight away if:
   - sessions are missed or cut short,
   - unsafe behaviour occurs,
   - the child shows heightened distress or regression.

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**Common difficulties & how to respond**

| **Challenge** | **First steps** |
| --- | --- |
| Family member turns up intoxicated | End the session safely; inform social worker and SSW immediately. |
| Child refuses to attend | Stay calm, explore feelings, record verbatim; seek guidance before forcing attendance. |
| Birth family asks to change contact arrangements | Thank them for raising it; explain that only the social worker can approve changes; pass request on the same day. |
| Unsupervised phone/social media contact | Screenshot or log evidence; notify SSW and social worker; review risk plan. |

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**Why the paperwork matters**

Consistent notes give professionals—and courts—clear evidence of what helps or hinders a child’s relationship with family. Accurate recording also protects you if any aspect of contact is later questioned.

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**Key takeaway:** Be proactive, be observant and keep talking with your SSW and the child’s social worker. Positive, well-managed contact can strengthen a child’s identity; poorly managed contact can do the opposite. Your sensitive approach makes the difference.