Family Care Society are launching for the first time in Northern Ireland an exciting and innovative new project, aimed at providing permanent families for babies and young children aged 0-2 years

What is Concurrent Planning?

Concurrent planning is a process of working towards family re-unification, while at the same time establishing an alternative permanent plan for a child in care.

The aim is to place children early with carers who can, if necessary become their permanent adoptive family, while Social Services and the Court make decisions about their future.

The concurrent planning project invites applications from people interested in being assessed as prospective concurrent carers. We are seeking married and single applicants, from all walks of life but all motivated by a desire to give a young child the best possible start in life.

The Project is seeking to recruit prospective concurrent carers who meet the following criteria:

• Interested in fostering a young child (between 0 and 2 years) with a view to adopting the child, should that become the agreed care plan?

• Aged less than 43 years?

• Living within an approximate 30 mile radius of Belfast?

• Able to take a break from employment for a period of one year, following a child being placed with you?

• Willing to put the needs of a very young child before your own?

• Flexible with your time, able to live with uncertainly and willing to take emotional risks?

• Willing to accept that the child you care for may return to their birth family after a number of months?

• Prepared to work co-operatively with the project, Social Services and other agencies where appropriate?

• Willing to bring the child to and from regular contact with their parents and to have some direct contact with the parents?