We are currently working in partnership with West Lothian Council to recruit concurrent carers for a small number of very young children who are at high risk of not being able to be cared for by their birth families.
Concurrent Care describes a particular type of foster care/adoption which thoroughly explores the possibility of a baby or very young child being returned to his or her birth parents before adoption.
During the period of assessment of the birth family situation, the baby will be placed with concurrent carers, on a fostering basis. If the child cannot return home to live, these concurrent carers will then become the prospective adopters and the plan for adoption is progressed.
The main benefit of Concurrent Care is that a young child experiences a close emotional relationship with only one primary care giver in the early days of their life. The child is given the opportunity to build significant emotional relationships with their birth parents if this is in his or her best interests but if this cannot be achieved they remain with their Concurrent Carers and therefore do not have any disruption to their care.
This route to adoption is not for everyone, it puts the child’s needs at the centre of the plan and can play a vital role in ensuring the best possible outcomes for babies or very young children who are at risk of not being able to remain with the families of their birth.
In order to become a Concurrent Carer, you need to:
St Andrew’s Children’s Society will be alongside you every step of the way through the process of concurrent care – and beyond. Couples will receive in-depth preparation training in the their role as concurrent carers and then adopters.
Full support will be given during the period of fostering to cope with arranged contact with the birth parents. This includes financial support in the form of foster care allowances to meet the care needs of child and a foster care fee which is a payment to you to offset some of the costs of loss of employment income.
You will be supported throughout the legal process if adoption becomes the plan for you and the child.
The full range of post-adoption support services will be available.
One of our social workers will then contact you.
Alternatively, please call us on 0131 454 3370 (if you live within 60 miles of Edinburgh) or 01224 878 158 (if you live within 60 miles of Aberdeen or Elgin) or email info@standrews-children.org.uk and we’ll send you an enquiry form to complete and return.
If you have any questions or are unsure if you can adopt or foster through us, please contact us anyway using the details above to speak with one of our social workers.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a concurrent carer then please use the contact details above to get in touch.
“The selfless support from this organisation is priceless, as is the dedication of its highly trained and intuitive staff.”
7 John’s Place
Edinburgh
EH6 7EL
Scotland
62 Dee Street
Aberdeen
AB11 6DS
Scotland