Early Permanence (EP)
What is Early Permanence?
Early Permanence (EP), sometimes referred to as Foster to Adopt or Concurrent Planning, is a pathway to adoption that allows children to be cared for by prospective adopters at a very early stage in their lives.
Children placed through an Early Permanence adoption arrangement remain under the care of the local authority while decisions about their long-term future are made by the courts. While adoption may be the most likely outcome, there is still a possibility that a child could return to their birth family if the court decides this is in their best interests.
For many people researching adoption in the UK, Early Permanence offers an opportunity to provide stability and security for a child from the earliest possible age, while reducing the number of moves they experience.
How does Early Permanence work?
Approved adopters who choose to be considered for an Early Permanence placement are willing to care for a child initially as foster carers while legal proceedings take place.
Because the outcome is not guaranteed, Early Permanence requires adopters to have emotional resilience and a strong support network. The focus throughout is on meeting the child’s needs and providing a safe, nurturing and stable home.
Benefits of Early Permanence
There are many benefits of Foster to Adopt and Early Permanence for children, including:
- The opportunity to be placed with carers from a very young age, often as babies under one year old.
- The chance to form secure attachments and bonds at the earliest possible stage of development.
- Greater stability through fewer moves while social workers and the courts make decisions about a child’s future.
- Opportunities to meet and learn about a child’s birth family (where appropriate and safe), helping you build a fuller understanding of their life story.
- Access to valuable information about a child’s experiences, history and needs through involvement during the assessment and decision-making process.
Research shows that early relationships and attachment can have a lasting impact on a child’s emotional wellbeing, making Early Permanence an important option to consider when exploring routes to adoption.
Could Early Permanence be right for you?
If you’re considering adopting a baby or exploring different pathways into adoption, Early Permanence may be an option worth considering.
Being open to Early Permanence does not mean you will automatically be matched with an EP placement. However, it can increase the opportunities available to provide a loving and stable home for a child at a crucial stage in their life.
Some questions to consider include:
- Could I manage a placement that may happen at short notice?
- Am I able to cope with uncertainty while court decisions are being made?
- Do I have the emotional resilience to manage the possibility of reunification with a child’s birth family?
- Do I have a strong support network around me?
- Can I focus on providing stability, attachment and care for a child while long-term decisions are being made?
Find out more about Early Permanence
If you’re asking yourself, “Is Early Permanence right for me?” or would like to learn more about Foster to Adopt, Concurrent Planning, or other adoption pathways, we’d be happy to help.
Our team can talk you through the benefits, challenges and support available, helping you decide whether Early Permanence could be the right route for you and your family.
Contact us today to find out more about adopting via Early Permanence and the support available throughout your adoption journey.