What help can parents or carers get from children’s services if a child in care is getting ready to leave the care system?

If a child is returning home to live with their parent, children’s services must:

• Carry out an assessment of what services and support the child and their parent might need when they return home (see regulation 39 (2) of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010)
• Carry out the assessment while the child is still looked after in care
• Include details of the advice, assistance and support that children’s services intend to provide in the child’s care plan.

Where a child has been looked after in care system for more than 20 days, children’s services must:

• Consult the child, their parents and the child’s independent reviewing officer about their decision to return the child home
• Ensure that the child’s wishes and feelings are taken into account (see regulation 39 (2) of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010).

Parents whose children are returning home from care should also see our Children returning from the care system to parents or wider family advice sheet.