Welcome to the Welsh Early Permanence Information Page (WEP)

Welsh Early Permanence is the care planning option that provides a child with a secure base as early as possible, when weeks and months really do matter; it enables healthy brain development and attachment through safe, predictable relationships with sensitive adults, and minimises the distressing moves that cause further trauma. WEP is the umbrella term given to the practice of placing children, with foster carers who are also approved as prospective adoptive parents. The WEP carer supports the child in the same way as other mainstream foster carers, undertaking all fostering tasks, including facilitating contact. If the child’s care plan becomes that of adoption, WEP carers have the capacity to go on to offer that child a long-term permanent home.

In Wales, WEP is a growing area of practice underpinned by the WEP framework. Our national framework along with all the supporting documents you need when thinking about care planning can be found below.

Welsh Early Permanence Framework

This good practice guide has been produced by AFKA Cymru on behalf of the National Adoption Service.

RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS

The National Adoption Service recognises the importance of sharing practice as we build our experience working under the WEP framework. In this section you will find a range of information dedicated to supporting practice learning within your service area.

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WEP: Feedback from social work professionals 
WEP Practice learning: Professionals Discussion - YouTube

This interview was filmed in April 2023, with the aim of sharing some of the first case management experience in Wales undertaken within the WEP Framework. In the video you will hear the reflections from the adoption, fostering and childcare social workers who have supported a child under a WEP care plan, with WEP carers Laura and Jonny. This video aims to provide an insight for practitioners and teams who are looking to develop WEP in their service area. It offers an opportunity to hear firsthand the positives of supporting a WEP carer plan and the challenges that may arise along the way as professionals begin to implement WEP practice.

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Becoming WEP Carers 
WEP practice development: Parents Interview - YouTube

WEP Carer’s: Laura and Jonny’s Story.  

‘there was uncertainty, but we really valued the time with our son early on, experiencing his firsts and forming a bond…….its was of great value for our son and his attachments within our family’

In this video you will hear from parents, Laura and Jonny, who came forward to grow their family through adoption but choose to do this via the route of Welsh Early Permanence. As some of the first carers in Wales to be approved under the WEP Framework, Laura and Jonny demonstrated a strong commitment to caring for their son whilst decisions were being made about his future. In this video they share their journey through the fostering and adoption process and provide their personal insights into the positives and challenges WEP has brought for them and their family.

WEP Carer's: Louise & Adam's Story 

Louise and Adam are adoptive parents to two wonderful little boys, Jack aged 3 and George just 8 months old. Their journey is unique, as they are one of the first families in Wales to support a child through Welsh Early Permanence. Louise and Adam have been kind enough to share their journey, providing valuable insight into their experiences, of WEP as second time adopters.

 

Please see attached the WEP Spring 2024 Newsletter, with updates on the progress of WEP throughout Wales.

For further information and enquiries about WEP please contact Laura Betts at laura.betts@adoptcymru.com.

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These downloadable resources are part of the Welsh Early Permanence: A Framework for Practice.

Practitioners are encouraged to use these source materials to support their practice.

Page	Templates	Format	Download link
5	Section 1 Flowchart 1:  Overview for Practitioners	pdf	Flowchart 1
9	Section 2 Recorded E-modules		2a E-module for Practitioners https://youtu.be/h7JEZNuoLNs
			2b E-module for Adoption and Fostering Panels https://youtu.be/ipAozxpy654
			2c E-module for the Judiciary  https://youtu.be/kD1a1PeuahM
			2d E-module for Family and Friends  https://youtu.be/gdz05IiQd3A
10	Flowchart 2: Care Planning and Referral	pdf	Flowchart 2
15	Section 3 WEP Child Referral	Word template	Child Referral Form
18	Section 4 WEP Matching	Word template	Matching Framework
			Matching Certificate
21	Section 5 WEP Placement	Word template	Delegated Authority Agreement
			Foster Care Agreement
			Placement Plan
23	Section 6 Recruitment, Preparation, Assessment and Approval of Prospective Adopters	Powerpoint slides	What is WEP.ppt
		pdf (leaflet)	WEP Info for adoptive parents
26	Flowchart 3: Applicants preparation and approval	pdf	Flowchart 3
27	Flowchart 4: Linking, matching and placements	pdf	Flowchart 4
31	Information for Referees	Word document	Information for Referees
32	WEP Carers and Finances	Word document	WEP Carers and Finances
33	Section 7 Preparation, Assessment and Approval of WEP carers	Online webinar	Fostering Training webinar
36	WEP Addendum Report for Fostering Panel	Word template	30 Addendum Report
36	WEP Checklist for FSW and ASW	Word template	31 WEP Checklist
36	WEP Monitoring tool for approvals and support	Word template	32 Monitoring Tool
37	Section 8 Information for Parents	pdf (leaflet)	WEP-Info for Parents-1
		pdf (leaflet)	WEP-Info for Parents-2
		pdf (leaflet)	WEP-Info for Parents-3
39	Recorded E-module		WEP E module for parents English - YouTube
40	Information for Parents’ Legal Representatives	pdf (leaflet)	36 WEP Info for legal representatives
41	Child Care Practitioner checklist	Word template	37 Child Care Practitioner checklist
42	Section 9 Child’s return to parents or wider family	Word template	39 Carers Review (template 1)
		Word template	40 Fostering Resignation Letter
44	Section 10 Following Placement Order Decision	Word template	42 Carers Review (template 2)
	Addendum All Wales Addendum Report	Word template	Addendum Report