Children in care: Where do children entering care at different ages end up? An analysis of local authority administrative data

Neil, Elsbeth; Gitsels, Lisanne A.; Thoburn, June

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104472

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…However, it is important to note that the participants in the Kerr et al (2014) study were placed in these homes as a result of being involved in criminal behavior and the study referred to them as a juvenile justice population (as opposed to an OOHC population). While most children and young people enter care due to abuse or neglect by parents (Government of South Australia, n.d.; Neil et al, 2019; Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, 2011), the participants of that study (Kerr et al, 2014) were in OOHC as a result of their own delinquent behavior. This is an important consideration given the overlap between suicide risk factors and the mental health and trauma-based profiles of children and young people both in OOHC and juvenile justice populations, but also further points to the lack of research on suicide in typical OOHC settings and populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the U.S., the median age of children in foster care and entering foster care is 7.7 and 6.3 years of age respectively (Children's Bureau, 2020). In the United Kingdom children aged 7–11 spend the longest about of time in looked after care, with a median age of 6 years (Neil et al, 2019). The consequence is that they are likely to spend a significant proportion of their childhoods growing up in an OOHC, where their safety and well-being need to be supported and managed.…”

Section: Suicidal Behavior In the Out-of-home Care Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vulnerable yet forgotten? A systematic review identifying the lack of evidence for effective suicide interventions for young people in contact with child protection systems.

Russell¹,

Trew²,

Higgins³

2021

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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Children and young people in out-of-home care are at a higher risk of suicide than young people not involved with child protection systems. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence of effective suicide prevention interventions for this vulnerable population. We reviewed the types of suicide prevention interventions that have been used and evaluated with children and young people and staff and carers in out-of-home care/child protection systems. We conducted a systematic review of existing literature using PRISMA guidelines. Only five studies met the inclusion criteria. Two evaluated youth-focused interventions: emotional intelligence therapy; and multidimensional treatment foster care, while three evaluated adult-focused “gatekeeper training.” Youth-focused interventions led to reductions in suicidal thoughts (suicidal ideation), and adult-focused interventions led to increased knowledge, skills, and behaviors such as referring youth to supports. Only one study, one of the youth-focused ones, evaluated the impact of the intervention in terms of suicide attempts but found no reduction. Large numbers of children enter into care with a high risk of suicide. With the considerable overlap between the trauma characteristics and mental health needs of young people in out-of-home care and suicide risk factors in the general population of young people, we recommend developing (and evaluating) new or adapted existing suicide prevention interventions designed specifically for the out-of-home care context.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Suicidal Behavior In the Out-of-home Care Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerable yet forgotten? A systematic review identifying the lack of evidence for effective suicide interventions for young people in contact with child protection systems.

Russell¹,

Trew²,

Higgins³

2021

American Journal of Orthopsychiatry

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“…A recent report by the Office of the Children's Commissioner estimated that over a 4-year period, 1 in 10 children experienced five or more placement changes (Children's Commissioner for England, 2019). Several recent studies in England have focused on describing the stability of children's care placements over multiple years (Stanley, Riordan, Lone, Harron, Dearden, Nasim, & Gilbert, 2017;Neil, Gitsels, & Thoburn, 2019) and categorizing longitudinal care histories (Sebba et al, 2015;Berridge et al, 2020). However, the limitation of such studies is that none have explored stability of care placements throughout childhood and most analyses are based on purposive and/or sub-national populations.…”

Section: Exploring Placement Stability For Children In Out-of-home Care In England: a Sequence Analysis Of Longitudinal Administrative Damentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring placement stability for children in out-of-home care in England: a sequence analysis of longitudinal administrative data

Grath-Lone

Harron

Dearden

et al. 2020

Child Abuse & Neglect

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BackgroundTo monitor stability of care, the proportion of children in England who have experienced three or more placements in the preceding 12-month period is published in government statistics. However, these annual snapshots cannot capture the complexity and heterogeneity of children's longitudinal care histories. ObjectiveTo describe the stability of care histories from birth to age 18 for children in England using a national administrative social care dataset, the Children Looked After return (CLA). Participants and SettingWe analyzed CLA data for a large, representative sample of children born between 1992 and 1994 (N = 16,000). MethodsUsing sequence analysis methods, we identified distinct patterns of stability, based on the number, duration, and timing of care placements throughout childhood. ResultsAlthough care histories were varied, six distinct patterns of stability were evident including; adolescent 1 st entries (17.6%), long-term complex care (13.1%) and early intervention (6.9%). Overall, most children (58.4%) had a care history that we classified as shorter term 4 care with an average of 276 days and 2.48 placements in care throughout childhood. Few children (4.0%) had a care history that could be described as long-term stable care. ConclusionsLongitudinal analyses of administrative data can refine our understanding of how out-ofhome care is used as a social care intervention. Sequence analysis is a particularly useful tool for exploring heterogeneous and complex care histories. Considering out-of-home care histories from a life course perspective over the entire childhood period could enable service providers to better understand and address the needs of looked after children.

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“…Evidence remains scarce on infants’ pathways through care, despite the importance of early childhood for developmental milestones. Evidence from one large local authority found that children aged 0–2 years old had very different pathways through care and may be less likely to be restored to parental care, than older children ( Neil, Gitsels, & Thoburn, 2019 ; Neil, Gitsels, & Thoburn, 2019 ). It is also unclear whether increased newborn entry into care is partly driven by earlier placement of infants into care who would have otherwise entered care later in infancy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing newborn and older infant entries into care in England between 2006 and 2014

Pearson

Jay

O’Donnell

et al. 2020

Child Abuse & Neglect

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Background The risk of entry to state care during infancy is increasing, both here in England and abroad, with most entering within a week of birth (‘newborns’). However, little is known about these infants or of their pathways through care over early childhood. Objective To characterize infant entries to care in England. Participants and setting All children in England who first entered care during infancy, between April 2006 and March 2014 (n = 42,000). Methods We compared sociodemographic and care characteristics for infants entering care over the study period by age at first entry (newborn: <1wks, older infant 1-51wks). Among those who entered before April 2010, we further characterized care over follow-up (i.e. 4 years from first entry) and employed latent class analysis to uncover any common pathways through care. Results Almost 40 % of infants first entered care as a newborn. Most infants first entered care under s 20 arrangements (i.e. out-of-court, 60 % of newborns vs 47 % of older infants). Among infants entering before April 2010, most were adopted over follow-up (60 % vs 37 %), though many were restored to parental care (20 % vs 32 %) or exited care to live with extended family (13 % vs 19 %). One in six infants (17.7 %) had particularly unstable care trajectories over early childhood, typified by three or more placements or failed reunification. Conclusions Evidence-based strengthening of pre-birth social work support is needed to improve preventive interventions before birth, to more effectively target infant placement into care. Linkages between child protection records and information on parents are needed to inform preventive strategies.

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Children in care: Where do children entering care at different ages end up? An analysis of local authority administrative data

Cited by 15 publications

References 27 publications

Vulnerable yet forgotten? A systematic review identifying the lack of evidence for effective suicide interventions for young people in contact with child protection systems.

Vulnerable yet forgotten? A systematic review identifying the lack of evidence for effective suicide interventions for young people in contact with child protection systems.

Exploring placement stability for children in out-of-home care in England: a sequence analysis of longitudinal administrative data

Characterizing newborn and older infant entries into care in England between 2006 and 2014

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