Activities per year
Abstract
The number of children referred to the English child protection system and the numbers receiving home-based intervention or placed in out of home care have been rising in recent years. It is difficult to judge whether these changes indicate that thresholds for intervention are low or high, as we know little about the severity of the maltreatment that draws children into the child protection system in England. This study compared the histories, circumstances and pathways of children receiving quasi-compulsory home-based support (under a child protection plan) to those for children ever placed in out of home care. It collected detailed data from the social workers of 390 children and is the first UK study to include a standardised measure of the severity of maltreatment, the Modified Maltreatment Classification System (MMCS). It found that the vast majority of children had experienced multiple types of maltreatment, including at least one type of high severity, suggesting that thresholds for the use of child protection plans and placement were high. The strongest predictors of placement (as opposed to home-based support) were severity of maltreatment, being unborn or under one year old at referral, being disabled and experiencing physical abuse. Findings are discussed in the context of developments in policy and services under the English government’s austerity programme.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 263-271 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Children and Youth Services Review |
Volume | 89 |
Early online date | 3 May 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2018 |
Bibliographical note
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.Keywords
- Austerity
- Child protection plans
- Foster Care;Austerity
- Maltreatment severity
Profiles
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Pathways and outcomes for fostered and adopted children
Nina Biehal (Keynote/plenary speaker)
11 Jul 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Decision-making and outcomes for maltreated children
Helen Frances Baldwin (Speaker) & Janine Irene Biehal (Speaker)
9 Nov 2017Activity: Talk or presentation › Seminar
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The Care Cases Crisis
Nina Biehal (Participant)
23 Feb 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Seminar/workshop/course
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Home or care? Outcomes for Looked After Children
Biehal, N., Cusworth, L. S., Tracey, L., Wade, J., Allgar, V. L., Baldwin, H. F., Meins, E., Pickett, K., Vostanis, P. & Fishburn, S.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (ESRC)
1/04/14 → 30/09/16
Project: Research project (funded) › Research