Young people removed from foster carers after refusing to social distance in Sheffield

Two teenagers were removed from their foster carers in Sheffield after putting them at risk by refusing to social distance during the Covid-19 lockdown.
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Sheffield Council says the majority of foster carers have continued to provide placements to children already living with them before lockdown, as well as offering care for new children.

But a report says: "We have had to move two or three adolescents from foster carers with health vulnerabilities where that young person refused to maintain social distancing, as their regular going out in the community presented a risk to those carers."

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The council says, as a group, foster carers have remained ‘resilient and focused’ in difficult circumstances.

The town hallThe town hall
The town hall

It says: “All direct contact for children with birth family members ceased at the commencement of lockdown, so carers are supporting children to have indirect contact with family members.

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“Placement stability has remained good. In addition, foster carers have been working with us to move some children on to adoption placements where we have assessed there is no additional Covid-19 risk in doing so."

Personal protective equipment has been given to carers where households have developed symptoms, many have had food packages and Easter eggs were given to all foster children.

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The report says: “We have used video conferencing to undertake social worker support sessions with carers, support group meetings, and assessment and training sessions for applicant carers.

“Our adoption service has coped through lockdown in much the same way as the fostering service. We are supporting adoptive families via video conferencing and are continuing to move children into adoptive placements.”

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