Becoming a concurrent carer Benefits of concurrent planning for a young child in care It reduces the number of times the child moves and gives them a consistent carer at the earliest opportunity. It’s been shown that children in care who gain permanency and stability at an early age have better outcomes in the long term than those who don’t. It allows the child to return to their birth parents if it becomes safe. Sometimes it gives social workers time to assess another member of the birth family who may be able to care for the child long term. It’s been shown that if it’s possible for a child to remain with their birth family, this is the best option. The role of a concurrent carer Concurrent carers take on this role knowing that the child in their care may either return to their birth family or remain with them and be adopted by them. It’s a role that involves uncertainty and is emotionally challenging. It requires a carer to bond with a child who may then move back to live with their birth family. A concurrent carer will support the child’s relationship with their birth parents by taking the child to regular meetings with them. This either bridges the child’s move back to their birth family or allows the relationship to continue once the child has been adopted, either in person or via the exchange of letters. Concurrent carers undertake specialised training to deal with the high level of uncertainty they will face and must demonstrate that they will support whichever final plan is made. Accepting that your needs are secondary to the child’s can be difficult, especially if you’ve formed an attachment to the child. Benefits of concurrent care for the carer Because concurrent carers look after babies and very young children, they provide a secure base and a positive attachment during the most crucial time in a child’s life. If the child remains with them, they’ve the benefit of having been with the child from the earliest opportunity. Concurrent carers have access to firsthand information about their child via their birth family, and this can help them to support a child come to terms with their life history and identity as they grow up. How to become a concurrent carer Get in touch with an adoption agency to find out whether they operate concurrent planning. You’ll then undergo the preparation, training and approval process. This is broadly the same process as for adoption although the training and support provided is tailored to concurrency. Further information More information about concurrent planning - frg.org.uk More information about concurrent planning - first4adoption.org.uk Concurrent planning in scotland - mygov.scot Concurrent planning in Wales - busnes.senedd.cymru Meeting professionals Questions for social workers and foster carers View a printable version of this page Manage Cookie Preferences