Caring for Abused and Neglected Children: Making the Right Decisions for Reunification or Long-Term Care

by Nina Biehal, Jim Wade, Nicola Farrelly, Ian Sinclair

Overview

The decision whether or not to reunify a child in care with their birth family is one of the most serious taken by children's services, and often involves considerable risk.

This book examines the long-term consequences of this decision for children who entered public care for abuse or neglect. It compares the experiences and progress of children who remained in care or returned to their birth families up to four years after the decision was taken. It covers how the decision is made, the factors taken into account when making it and provides important suggestions for effective decision-making. It compares the progress made by the children in relation to their safety, stability and emotional well-being. The book demonstrates that, contrary to common belief, long-term care can be a positive option for maltreated children.

This book provides important messages for reunification policy and practice in relation to maltreated children. It will be essential reading for social work practitioners, researchers and policy makers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857004413
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	08/15/2011
Series:	Safeguarding Children Across Services
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jim Wade is Senior Research Fellow, Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of York, UK. Nina Biehal is Research Director, SPRU, University of York, UK. Nicola Farrelly is Research Fellow, University of Central Lancashire, UK. Ian Sinclair is Professor Emeritus, SPRU, University of York, UK. Their research interests include children in care, reunification with birth families, foster care and adoption, and leaving care.
Professor Nina Biehal is Research Director at the Social Policy Research Unit of the University of York. She is leads work on vulnerable children, children in care and young people. Previously a social worker, Nina has been involved in child welfare research for many years. Her research interests focus particularly on social work with older children and adolescents. She has published widely on leaving care, runaways from care, family support and missing persons.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction. 2. Study Design. 3. The Children's Admission to Care. 4. The Effective Decision: How Children and Parents Were Getting On. 5. How the Effective Decision was Made: Planning and Outcome. 6. How the Effective Decision was Made: Experiences of Parents and Children. 7. Children's Experiences at Home and in Care: The First Six Months. 8. Placements and Stability at Follow-up. 9. Well-Being and Progress at Follow-up. 10. Exploring Well-Being at Follow-up. 11. Case Studies: From Admission to Follow-up. 12. Conclusion. Appendix A. A Global Outcome Measure of Child Well-Being. References. Index.

Editorial Reviews

This is a well-written and well-presented book. It is useful for social workers, social work students and professionals working with young people in the public care system faced with making the decision of whether a child should remain looked after or returned home.

PSW

The decision to return a child home after a period in care couldn't be more critical. If you want a comprehensive, evidence-based exploration of the issues and consequences of these life changing professional decisions, then this is a 'must read'.

John Simmonds

Overall the book provides a useful read for EPs, particularly those who work specifically with looked after children. It reminds all involved in supporting children, young people and their families of the role they play in safeguarding.

Debate