For a child, returning home from care can feel as big as a separation. And while it’s the most common outcome for children who leave care, we know that around half of those who return home will end up back in care.
Our reunification framework written with Prof Elaine Farmer is designed to support social workers’ professional judgment about if and how a child should return home. I have been using this guidance in practice, working alongside colleagues in statutory social care, for a number of years. It’s shown me how improving reunification planning and decisions can improve the likelihood of getting it right to give the child and their family the best chance in the long term.
Here are five things I’ve learned along the way.
1 Assessing parental capacity to change – as well as risk and protective factors – is vital
It’s not good enough to say a parent will attend a parenting class; we need to see that this leads to an actual change in their behaviour. It’s the best way to determine whether children will be provided with safe, stable and nurturing care if they return home.
A parent’s empathy and an ability to step into the child’s shoes is important. It’s a big ask for a parent to contain a child’s feelings, especially when those feelings may well be directed at the parent, but they need to demonstrate that they understand why their child was taken into care and show what has changed. Not taking responsibility for situations which have caused harm to their child, or lacking insight into why it was a problem, is a also concern.
2 Effective support can make all the difference – and parents should be given reasonable opportunity to change
Some parents may never have experienced a support network, and their own experiences may mean it’s difficult for them to engage with services. Of almost half of the mothers known to have alcohol or drug problems in Farmer’s 2011 study, only 5% received treatment to help them address their substance misuse.
As much time and consideration should go into returning a child home as it does when a child goes into care. We know there is a ripple effect; the less time taken when children return home, the more is likely to be needed later on if the relationship breaks down. Families and social workers should work together to understand what needs to change, to set goals, access support and services, and review progress.
3 Be especially cautious when parents demonstrate the kind of risk factors that are most likely to lead to future harm to a child
Unfortunately, there are cases where the risks are too severe to think about a return home. Focusing decision-making on the bigger picture can help. Can this adult parent this child now and in the long term? Can the issues which led to the child needing to come into care be addressed in a timeframe that meets the child’s needs? If not, the framework enables social workers to make robust decisions and look for other permanence options for the child.
4 The child’s voice and best interests must be central to decision-making and planning
Spending time with the child, their family and the key people in their life can give you a good sense of what the plans mean for them now and in the long term. We ask the child to verbalise their wishes and feelings about what they’d like to change and what they think would be needed for a return home to work. You can assess children’s wishes and feelings in different ways – through art, play and behaviour – to capture what they are showing as well as telling us about the idea of returning to their parents.
5 Returning home should be planned and supported for as long as needed
When a child goes home one of the most helpful things is stability. By working with parents and foster carers, we can help them communicate with each other about what helps the child feel happy, safe and secure. This can be as seemingly simple as likes and dislikes when it comes to food, TV or school subjects. It gives a strong message to the child that all the adults involved in looking after them are talking to each other and helping to think about what is best for them.
Find out more about the NSPCC’s work on reunification at the National Children and Adult Services conference, stand G18. Or join our innovation session, 9am on Thursday 15 October, Purbeck Lounge. For more information about the NSPCC’s reunification work visit nspcc.org.uk/returninghome.
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