Ten top tips for managing contact

In recent years the idea of separated children maintaining some form of contact with their birth relatives has risen rapidly up the practice agenda. But it is not always an easy process to establish contact arrangements, or to keep them running smoothly and successfully for both the child and carers or parents.

Ten Top Tips on Managing Contact, the second publication in BAAF’s Ten Top Tips series, looks at some fundamental positive steps that social workers, adopters and carers can take to ensure that contact is a beneficial experience. Subjects covered include:

• Being clear about the purpose of contact
• Keeping memories alive
• Preparing children individually for contact
• Managing expectations
• Supporting adopters, foster carers and birth families

Throughout this accessible, quick reference guide the emphasis is on evidence from practice and experience. Useful checklists are provided to offer newly qualified social workers good quality, high level information, whilst the guide provides reinforcement for established practitioners as well as some triggers for further thought and exploration.