Care planning and permanence Improving outcomes for looked after children

Assessment and decision making Security and permanence

Putting children at the centre Making use of the evidence from research; similarities between SCRA research and English studies Child development and well being; impact of neglect and emotional abuse on life chances Respecting the rights of parents

Babies at risk- Ward et al research 57 high risk children; 43 followed up to third birthday; neglect most common form of maltreatment 65% identified before birth- almost all before 6 months 20 mothers already permanently separated from older child Many care planning decisions temporary Long delays- and several changes – before final placement Double jeopardy; period at risk with birth parents and then removal from foster carers to whom they have become attached Similar to SCRA findings

Follow up at age 3;Ward research The 43 children fell into three groups; – 16 living at home- no ongoing concerns – 12 at home with severe ongoing concerns- neglect and emotional abuse – 15 permanently separated from parents Over half displayed developmental problems/behavioural difficulties/aggression; delayed speech common

Why did it take so long? Focus on supporting birth parents and safeguarding family, rather than individual children within it Tensions between adult and children services Expert witnesses Repeated parenting assessments

Why did it take so long? cont Parents who had been looked after themselves as children received extensive support Gaps in knowledge and understanding Involvement of extended family Social worker confidence low Rule of optimism and faith in parents’ ability to change- just over one third did so

Factors indicative of parental change Parents who successfully changed were Less likely to have experienced abuse in childhood More likely to overcome external rather than internal risk factors Able to come to terms with the removal of older children Able to acknowledge the risks posed by their destructive behaviour patterns Able not simply to engage with services but also make positive use of support offered Able to develop supportive informal networks

Birth of a child as a catalyst for change No parent overcame substance misuse if they continued to use drugs after the child was born All but one set of parents who made and sustained sufficient changes had addressed all known risk factors by the time the child was 6 months old Parents in the successful change group spoke of a ‘wake up call’ as a catalyst for change. No parent in insufficient change group said this.

Group discussion True for us? How can we balance the rights of child and parent? Can we ensure greater momentum in decision making? What information would best assist your decision making? health support? Information on child’s development? What would you like to see different?

Concurrent planning? Care planning is often sequential so that a secure placement is delayed until late in the process Can we change our approach to planning so that we look longer term to child’s security and well being?

Concurrent planning to focus our decision making? Places the needs and welfare of children at the forefront- whilst providing a high quality service to assist birth parents Preliminary assessment of risk where adoption 60% likely Child placed with carers who are approved to foster and to adopt Parents offered service to establish changes they need to make within a very few months

Concurrent planning- benefits? Child experiences good quality uninterrupted consistent care whilst assessments are being undertaken Reduces number of placements for the child If rehabilitation is not possible, child retains attachment relationships with caregivers without experience of loss and disruption of further moves

Concurrent planning? Places the strain with the adults Adults have to work within time limits to focus on child’s needs for early permanence and avoidance of unnecessary moves

Group discussion What does this imply for our management of children’s care journeys? What would this mean for the Children’s Hearing? Issues for contact? Relationship with the legal system?