Planned move checklist.

Before confirming a placement

• Review the relevant home's current Statement of Purpose and service boundaries.
• Check suitability and compatibility with the needs of children already living there.
• Discuss the child's strengths, interests, worries and preferred ways of communicating.
• Confirm who is responsible for placement decisions and the next planning discussion.
• Agree an appropriate way to share the information needed for assessment.

Preparing with the child

• Explain why the move is being considered in words the child understands.
• Ask what they want to know and record questions needing an answer.
• Share the home's children's guide in a suitable format.
• Discuss any familiarisation arrangements that can be offered.
• Talk about belongings, familiar comforts and practical moving-day needs.
• Explain how their views will be heard during planning and review.

Plans and continuity

• Confirm the care and support information the home needs.
• Discuss education arrangements and any support needed during the transition.
• Confirm health information, appointments and any medicines handover requirements.
• Discuss cultural, religious, language, identity and communication needs.
• Confirm the current contact plan and any relevant restrictions or support arrangements.
• Agree who needs updates, what may be shared and how communication will work.

Agreeing the move and settling in

• Agree arrival arrangements, who accompanies the child and who receives them.
• Confirm what the child has been told about their room and daily life.
• Make sure the child knows whom to approach with a question or worry.
• Explain complaints, advocacy and children's rights information in an understandable way.
• Identify immediate practical needs and any unanswered questions.
• Agree how the child's experience of the move will be heard and reviewed.
• Confirm who will follow up each outstanding action and when.

Questions and next actions

This page is made to be printed and worked through during the conversation. Print it, go through the sections above together, and write the actions here.

Outstanding question

Person responsible

Agreed follow-up

For care enquiries and document requests: referrals@guidancecare.co.uk.