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Assessing parental capacity to change when children are on the edge of care: an overview of current research evidence: research report
- Authors:
- WARD Harriet, BROWN Rebecca, HYDE-DRYDEN Georgia
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Education
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 193
- Place of publication:
- London
This report provides an overview of current research evidence, bringing together some of the key research messages concerning factors which promote or inhibit parental capacity to change in families where there are significant child protection concerns. It is intended to serve as a reference resource for social workers in their work to support families where children’s safety and developmental functioning are at risk. Its purpose is also to assist social workers and children’s guardians in delivering more focused and robust assessments of parenting capability and parental capacity to change, and assist judges and other legal professionals in evaluating the quality of assessment work in court proceedings. The report brings together research findings from a wide range of disciplines, which are not otherwise readily available in one location for social workers, family justice professionals and other practitioners with safeguarding responsibilities. The research evidence covered in this report confirms that change is both important and necessary when children are suffering abuse and neglect. However it also makes it clear that change is difficult for everyone, but even harder for those parents who are struggling with an interlocking web of problems. It also takes time. Change is a complex process, and although it can be supported and promoted through effective interagency interventions, it cannot be imposed and will not happen unless parents are proactively engaged. (Edited publisher abstract)
Safeguarding babies and very young children from abuse and neglect
- Authors:
- WARD Harriet, BROWN Rebecca, WESTLAKE David
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 240p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Based on a research study following babies identified as likely to suffer significant harm before their first birthdays until they were three years old, this book explores key issues surrounding the safeguarding process. These include; how decisions to remove children from their families are made, and whether interventions from social workers and other professionals work are effective and the impact they have on children's life pathways. It also examines the role various participants, including parents, have in decision-making. The findings of the study reveal a close link between decisions, maltreatment and children's developmental problems, and provide key implications and recommendations for policy and practice. The book is aimed at anyone involved in safeguarding children, including practitioners, policymakers, academics and researchers. Topics covered include: initial assessments, core assessments and Section 47 Enquiries; the children; the parents and their circumstances; referrals and assessments; pathways to permanence, temporary measures to safeguard children; how far were the children safeguarded; professional perspectives; and parents' perspectives. The book concludes with a summary of the key findings, their implications for policy and practice, and a discussion of methodological limitations concerning recruitment and retention of the study sample.
Evaluation of the introduction of inter-agency referral documentation (children in need of assessment consent form) in North East Lincolnshire
- Authors:
- WARD Harriet, SMITH Noel
- Publisher:
- Loughborough University. Centre for Child and Family Research
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 52p.
- Place of publication:
- Loughborough
In November 2000, North East Lincolnshire Local Authority introduced ‘Children in Need and in Need of Protection Assessment and Consent’ (A&C) forms, a tool to be used by agencies when referring children to social services. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the introduction of the A&C form on the pattern and quality of child care referrals made to social services by health, education and ‘other’ agencies (e.g. police and other statutory and voluntary agencies).
Approaches to needs assessment in children's services
- Editors:
- WARD Harriet, ROSE Wendy
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 352p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Examining the assessment of need in children's services, this book addresses the full spectrum of practice, policy and research developments in the field. The contributors include leading academics, policy makers and senior practitioners, who general a broad based holistic approach to the assessment of children in need. They show how needs assessment in children's services can be used to tackle problems such as low achievement, mental ill health and social exclusion at both individual and strategic levels.
Looking after children: good parenting, good outcomes; management and implementation guide
- Authors:
- CORRICK Hilary, JONES Debbie, WARD Harriet
- Publisher:
- HMSO/Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 1995
- Pagination:
- 56p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Guide designed to help planners, managers, and social work supervisors set up the 'Looking after children' system and make the best use of it. Complements the 'Looking after children training guide'.
Decision-making within a child's timeframe: an overview of current research evidence for family justice professionals concerning child development and the impact of maltreatment
- Authors:
- BROWN Rebecca, WARD Harriet
- Publisher:
- Institute of Education. Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 124p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This evidence paper is intended to assist decision-making by family justice professionals and facilitate a greater understanding of individual children’s needs and appropriate timeframes. It brings together key research evidence to facilitate understanding in areas relating to: neuroscience perspectives on children’s cognitive, social and emotional development; the implications of maltreatment on childhood and adulthood wellbeing; evidence concerning the outcomes of interventions by the courts and children’s social care; and timeframes for intervening and why they are out of kilter with those for children. The research methodology includes both a literature search of peer reviewed research papers and collation of expert knowledge. Separate chapters discuss: parenting which undermines healthy child development and attachment; how the child’s relationships shape the development of the brain and the stress response system; and the impact of abuse on child development. The final chapter brings together the research findings and places them in the context of evidence relating to timeframes for court proceedings and local authority pre and post proceedings work. It also explores delays in decision-making and their consequences for children’s development and long-term life chances.
Young children suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm: experience on entering education: research brief
- Authors:
- WARD Harriet, BROWN Rebecca, MASKELL-GRAHAM Debi
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Education
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 10p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This research brief provides an overview of the 2nd report from a prospective, longitudinal study tracing the decision-making processes that have influenced the life pathways of a cohort of young children who were identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm before their 1st birthdays. The report explores their progress between the ages of 3 and 5 years, with particular emphasis on their experiences on entering education. The focus on education is due to the view that, from about the time the children were 3, social workers would be able to withdraw their support on the grounds that their welfare would be monitored by staff in nurseries and schools. The study took place in 10 local authorities and focused on a subset of 37 of the original sample of 57 infants. The study used a mixed methods design, including data collected from social work case files, questionnaires completed by both parents and teachers, and in-depth interviews conducted with birth parents. The research brief provides an overview of the findings with regard to: the children’s position at birth and at age 3; the children’s position at age 5; children’s social care involvement; evidence of emotional and behavioural difficulties at age 5; and the role of the school in responding to abuse and neglect. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, including the importance of early, decisive and effective intervention and the role of schools in the safeguarding agenda.
Young children suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm: experiences on entering education: research report
- Authors:
- WARD Harriet, BROWN Rebecca, MASKELL-GRAHAM Debi
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Education
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 112p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This is the 2nd report from a prospective, longitudinal study tracing the decision-making processes that have influenced the life pathways of a cohort of young children who were identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm before their 1st birthdays. This report explores their progress between the ages of 3 and 5 years, with particular emphasis on their experiences on entering education.The focus on education is due to the view that, from about the time the children were 3, social workers would be able to withdraw their support on the grounds that their welfare would be monitored by staff in nurseries and schools. The study took place in 10 local authorities and focused on a subset of 37 of the original sample of 57 infants. The study used a mixed methods design, including data collected from social work case files, questionnaires completed by both parents and teachers, and in-depth interviews conducted with birth parents. The report discusses the findings under the following themes: the children’s experiences and progress from the ages of 3-5 years; readiness for school and evidence of emotional and behavioural difficulties or delayed development at age 5; and the children’s progress and experience as they enter school. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, including the importance of early, decisive and effective intervention and the role of schools in the safeguarding agenda.
Safeguarding children across services: messages from research on identifying and responding to child maltreatment
- Authors:
- DAVIES Carolyn, WARD Harriet
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Education
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 20p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The key messages from fifteen studies in a research programme jointly funded by the Department for Education and the Department of Health on the protection of children in England are presented. The findings are discussed in three main areas: identification and initial response to abuse and neglect; effective interventions after abuse or its likelihood have been identified; and effective inter-agency and inter-disciplinary working. The research focuses on on neglect and emotional abuse. The main implications for professionals and policy makers are highlighted. Details of the 15 individual studies are included.
Cumulative jeopardy: how professional responses to evidence of abuse and neglect further jeopardise children's life chances by being out of kilter with timeframes for early childhood development
- Authors:
- BROWN Rebecca, WARD Harriet
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 47(3), 2014, pp.260-267.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Evidence concerning the impact of abuse and neglect in the early years points to the importance of taking swift and decisive action when very young children are suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. The decisions made by professionals who have safeguarding responsibilities are extremely difficult and will have long-term consequences for children's life chances. This paper explores three complementary questions. Firstly, how far is there a mismatch between timeframes for early childhood development and those for responses to evidence of abuse and neglect from professionals with safeguarding responsibilities? Secondly, if a mismatch exists, why has it occurred? And thirdly, how might the issues identified be addressed? Illustrations are drawn from a prospective longitudinal study of the decision-making processes influencing the life pathways and developmental progress of an English sample of very young children who were identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm before their first birthdays and have now been followed until they are five years old. (Publisher abstract)