Understanding your child’s placement

Your child is to be placed in a residential home or a foster family. 

This can be a situation that raises concerns, emotions, misunderstandings and questions.

A child is placed in care when it is the only way to protect their physical and/or psychological safety.

There are two possible reasons that may have led to your child’s placement :

• An agreement with the Child Protection Department (SPMi), where you agree that the situation is no longer viable and a placement is needed.
• A court order. In this case, the reasons for the placement will have been explained to you by the Child Protection Officer (IPE) and/or by the judge, usually at a hearing. They are set out in the court’s decision.

The placement takes place in several stages.

• In an emergency: If the situation demands it, your child may be placed in care immediately to guarantee their safety. This will be followed by an assessment to plan what should happen next.

• Medium- or long-term placements: There is an admission process, with a number of meetings, to prepare how your child will be looked after as carefully as possible.

• Drawing up the placement plan: An initial meeting is organised to draw up an individual placement plan for your child. This is an opportunity for us to decide together on what we are trying to achieve and what needs to be done to ensure your child’s well-being and development.

The people who attend the initial meeting are:

• You, as the child’s parent 
• The team from the residential home, or their representatives
• The Child Protection Officer, representing the SPMi
• The child, depending on their age and situation

What we will do together: Together, we will fill in a document setting out who will take which decisions during the placement. Often, these decisions have already been taken by the court.

Useful information for regular follow-ups: We encourage you to provide any information you can to help us offer your child the best possible care (dietary habits, sleep, allergies, health problems, etc.).

Regular follow-ups:

• We will review your child’s situation at least every six months. This is a chance to see how things are working and how your child is developing. The purpose of the placement will be explained and discussed with you, because your point of view is important.

• If your child is in a residential home, they will have a weekly meeting with their key worker. As a parent, you can also have meetings with their key worker at a frequency agreed with the care team.

Your rights

• Right to receive information about your child: You have the right to be informed about decisions that affect your child.
• Right to ask professionals for information: You can ask the care team at the home for information. If your child has been placed with a foster family, you can contact the Child Protection Officer.
• Right to maintain contact with your child: Unless otherwise indicated, you can maintain regular contact (visits, phone calls, letters, etc.) with your child. As far as possible, the arrangements will be agreed together at the initial meeting and recorded in the placement plan. If, however, the placement was ordered by a court, it will decide when and how you can see your child.
• Right to take certain decisions: You will be involved in decisions about your child as far as possible, depending on the placement plan and court decisions.

Your responsibilities

The most important thing is to accept support from the professionals advising you.

It isn’t easy, but remember they are there to help you. They will support you in stabilising and improving your situation. That way, you will be able to focus better on your role as a parent.

Here are some examples:

• Comply with and obey court decisions
• Work with the SPMi and, if your child is in a residential home, with the care team
• Attend meetings with the professionals involved
• Take part in the discussion on the aims of the placement
• Work to achieve your objectives
• Submit your request to see if you can be granted an exceptional visiting right three weeks in advance

Several professionals are on hand to help you:

• If your child is in a residential home, the care team and your child’s key worker are important. The Child Protection Officer at the SPMi can also answer your questions.
• If your child has been placed with a foster family, the Child Protection Officer will be your main point of contact.

The judge in charge of your child’s case may allow you to attend a hearing. If necessary, you can also write to them.

To take care of your child, you also need to take care of yourself: you may find a social worker, your doctor, a psychologist or other professional helpful.

You will be asked to make a financial contribution: this is calculated based on your income for eligibility for benefits (revenu déterminant unifié (RDU)). The remainder is covered by the state.

Your may also be charged for medical care that is not reimbursed by the social security system, as well as the costs of your child’s normal activities.

If you do not live with the other parent, the financial contribution will be requested from the parent the child was living with most recently and who receives family allowance, maintenance payments and possibly other income.

You will not be asked for a financial contribution if you receive financial assistance from the Hospice général.

Residential homes and foster families are authorised and supervised by the placements authorisation and supervision department (service d’autorisation et de surveillance des lieux de placement (SASLP)) to ensure that the children placed with them are looked after in good conditions.

The placement ends once the situation is sufficiently stable, and if your child can return to their family environment in complete safety.