Suchergebnisse

Purpose: The study investigated whether sibling relationships influenced the outcomes of a sample of adoptive placements in England and Wales that had broken down postorder or were in crisis. Method: The study used secondary analysis drawing on in-depth interviews with 41 families who had experienced an adoption disruption and 42 families who described the adoptive placement as being in crisis in England and in Wales. The families contained 214 adopted and birth children. Results: Siblings placed together were statistically more likely to disrupt in comparison with sequential placements. Only 18 of the 83 families described normal sibling relationships. Placements intended to maintain sibling relationships had not done so. Conclusion: Assessments need to pay more attention to sibling dynamics. Children's relationships might be better supported by separate placements with planned contact. Interventions are needed to improve sibling relationships.

Julie Selwyn highlights the importance of recognising children's positive relationships and ensuring that children are connected to adults who will offer a long-term commitment.

The last two decades have seen a welcome increase in the recognition of children's rights, in terms of both public opinion and legislation. When it comes to adoption, however, are children's wishes and feelings being truly heard? Julie Selwyn discusses the findings of her recent study into this question. After assessing the duties of social workers and guardians, as defined by current legislation and guidance, she reveals the extent to which children's views sometimes fail to be ascertained during the adoption process. Taking a random sample of files, particular attention is paid to the contents of section O of Schedule 2 reports in which a social worker is specifically required to record a child's 'wishes and feelings in relation to adoption and the application, including any wishes in respect of religious and cultural upbringing'. The role of guardians is also examined.

Adoption and fostering practice has played an important part in developing the concepts of empowerment and partnership in the field of child protection. However, writes Julie Selwyn, the complicated and powerful role of the adoption officer in assessing applicants who wish to adopt has largely been ignored.

Intro -- Contents -- Chapter 1 -- Chapter 2 -- Chapter 3 -- Chapter 4 -- Chapter 5 -- Chapter 6 -- Chapter 7 -- Chapter 8 -- Chapter 9 -- Chapter 10 -- Chapter 11 -- Chapter 12 -- Chapter 13 -- Chapter 14 -- Chapter 15 -- Chapter 16 -- Chapter 17 -- Chapter 18 -- References

Research reviews of the contact arrangements for children in care have highlighted gaps in evidence. Using data from 9,316 looked after children in England and Wales aged four to 18 years, the analysis aimed to gain an understanding of children's views of their contact arrangements. Data came from the Your Life, Your Care wellbeing surveys distributed by 42 English and Welsh local authorities between 2016 and 2020. The analysis confirmed some previous findings but challenged others. While previous UK research has emphasised that the quality of contact is more important than frequency, from the young people's perspective frequency was equally important. Most children wanted more contact with specific individuals (and their pets) to understand why decisions had been made and wanted contact to be normalised and in the community at times to suit their and their family's circumstances. Children in kinship placements more frequently had contact, but a quarter of the sample had no parental contact. Being in residential care, male and of an ethnic minority background were associated with dissatisfaction. Life satisfaction was not associated with whether parental contact was or was not occurring but was statistically associated with whether young people felt their contact arrangements were 'Just right'. Recommendations for improving practice and a tool to help agencies audit their services have been developed.

Abstract
There has been growing interest in the Local Authority (LA) variation in rates of admission to care and provision of services but less is known about whether young people's experience of care varies by LA. Using survey data from 4,994 looked after young people (aged eleven to eighteen years) from thirty-six English LAs, the analyses focused on LA variation in their subjective well-being. There was a statistically small LA variation in young people's responses to individual survey questions except for a question that asked if young people felt they had a trusted adult in their lives. Between 66 per cent and 100 per cent of young people had a trusted adult depending on the LA caring for them. Positively associated with overall well-being were, being looked after by a non-London LA, a longer length of time in care, fewer placement moves, children's positive perceptions of a reciprocal trusting relationship with their carer, having a good friend and being male. Counter-intuitively, LAs with an outstanding or good Ofsted social care or education judgement were associated with a higher proportion of their young people having low well-being.

AbstractHaving a good understanding of one's origins and history is known to be significant in identity development. Drawing on a large‐scale online survey of looked after children's subjective well‐being, this paper demonstrates that a significant number of children and young people (age 4–18 years) did not fully understand the reasons for their entry to care. The paper explores the effect of this lack of knowledge on children's well‐being and on their feelings of being settled in their current placement. The study reiterates the need for professionals to be honest and open with children in out‐of‐home care and the need to specifically address, perhaps repeatedly, why a child is not living with their birth family.

Improving the subjective well-being of all children has become a policy goal of national and international governments. To meet this aim, there have been substantial efforts to identify what makes a good life and to find ways to measure it. In the UK, The Children's Society and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have involved children in identifying domains of subjective well-being and the indicators that measure them. However, very little is known about whether looked after children identify the same domains and indicators important to their well-being. Here we report on findings from 18 focus groups with 140 looked after children and young people on what was important to their well-being. This article reports specifically on the key areas of well-being identified by looked after children. The focus groups were the first stage of a project which has since used the findings to develop and pilot an online well-being survey for looked after children. Although there was agreement with children in the general population about the importance of some domains of well-being (e.g. relationships), looked after children identified others specific to their situation (e.g. having a good understanding of their life history). The article, therefore, argues that there is a need for a specific well-being measure for looked after children.

Improving the subjective well-being of all children has become a policy goal of national and international governments. To meet this aim, there have been substantial efforts to identify what makes a good life and to find ways to measure it. In the UK, The Children's Society and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have involved children in identifying domains of subjective well-being and the indicators that measure them. However, very little is known about whether looked after children identify the same domains and indicators important to their well-being. Here we report on findings from 18 focus groups with 140 looked after children and young people on what was important to their well-being. This article reports specifically on the key areas of well-being identified by looked after children. The focus groups were the first stage of a project which has since used the findings to develop and pilot an online well-being survey for looked after children. Although there was agreement with children in the general population about the importance of some domains of well-being (e.g. relationships), looked after children identified others specific to their situation (e.g. having a good understanding of their life history). The article, therefore, argues that there is a need for a specific well-being measure for looked after children.