ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Publisher:
Centre for Research on Families and Relationships
Publication year:
2006
Pagination:
20p.
Place of publication:
Edinburgh
Since 1995, with the Children (Scotland) Act, parents in Scotland have had a responsibility to maintain contact with their children after separation or divorce. This, of course, means the estranged parents coming to some sort of arrangement – something the vast majority do informally rather than go through the courts. The Scottish Executive wants to find out more about how these informal...
Since 1995, with the Children (Scotland) Act, parents in Scotland have had a responsibility to maintain contact with their children after separation or divorce. This, of course, means the estranged parents coming to some sort of arrangement – something the vast majority do informally rather than go through the courts. The Scottish Executive wants to find out more about how these informal agreements are reached, and whether and how they ‘work’, and this booklet aims to make a significant contribution to that quest. What do we know about the extent of these arrangements and the families concerned, and how contact is negotiated and maintained? And what about the children themselves? How are they involved in private contact agreements, and what are their views on the process and results? This publication is based on presentations by Dr Fran Wasoff, of the University of Edinburgh, and Dr Bren Neale of the University of Leeds, at a special seminar held in Edinburgh in May, 2006 – the first in a series to be organised by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Scottish Executive on key policy issues.
Justice of the Peace and Local Government Law, 11.11.95, 1995, pp.753-754.
Publisher:
Justice of the Peace Ltd
Looks at case law which identifies the extent to which the rights of grandparents to apply for access orders under the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 have been watered down by subsequent legislation.
Looks at case law which identifies the extent to which the rights of grandparents to apply for access orders under the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates' Courts Act 1978 have been watered down by subsequent legislation.
British Journal of Social Work, 51(3), 2021, pp.1060-1079.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
There are recent calls to consider face-to-face birth family contact for more children adopted from care. Given that the threshold for this authoritative intervention is significant harm, post-adoption contact should be sensitive to the possible impact of early childhood trauma, and be adequately supported. This article draws on adopters’ reports of face-to-face contact with birth relatives...
(Edited publisher abstract)
There are recent calls to consider face-to-face birth family contact for more children adopted from care. Given that the threshold for this authoritative intervention is significant harm, post-adoption contact should be sensitive to the possible impact of early childhood trauma, and be adequately supported. This article draws on adopters’ reports of face-to-face contact with birth relatives, and their evaluation of social work support to suggest an approach to practice informed by principles of trauma-informed care. Twenty-six adoptive parents participated in focus groups, and seventy-three completed a web-based questionnaire, all from Northern Ireland where face-to-face post-adoption contact is expected. Findings are structured thematically around principles of trauma-informed care: trusting relationships; physical and emotional safety; choice and control; and narrative coherence. Most families had a social worker attending contact, and help with practical arrangements. Less common but important practices included: deliberate consideration of children’s perspectives; safeguarding their emotional well-being; and facilitating communication outside of visits. Findings suggest that visits are a context in which trauma-effects may surface, and social workers supporting contact should be sensitive to this possibility. This article suggests a systemic approach to helping all parties prepare for, manage and de-brief after contact, attending to both adult-to-adult and adult–child interactions.
(Edited publisher abstract)
BADEN Amanda L., HARRINGTON Elliotte Sue, WHITE Ebony
Journal article citation:
Journal of Social Work, 21(3), 2021, pp.476-496.
Publisher:
Sage
Summary: Reunification or post-adoption contact between adoptees, birth families, and other adoption stakeholders has become a normalized developmental trajectory, yet the process of seeking contact after adoption placement varies greatly depending on numerous factors including access to original birth certificates, openness of the adoption, and systemic and institutional challenges that may aid...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Summary: Reunification or post-adoption contact between adoptees, birth families, and other adoption stakeholders has become a normalized developmental trajectory, yet the process of seeking contact after adoption placement varies greatly depending on numerous factors including access to original birth certificates, openness of the adoption, and systemic and institutional challenges that may aid or hinder contact. In this study, 101 post-adoption search facilitators responded to an online survey comprised of scale items and open-ended responses. Findings: Respondents reported that most had no formal education or training to prepare them to assist with searches, they were primarily self-taught and utilized workshops and conferences as a secondary source of preparation, and only about one-quarter required counseling as part of the search process. Findings also indicated that formal education was rated as not helpful and office training (for those who had it) as neutral in its helpfulness. The primary theme identified in the data was that search facilitators must recognize emotions, particularly the grief and loss, associated with the search process to be effective. Applications: Social work educators can prepare social work practitioners to effectively assist with post-adoption searches and reunions for adoptees and first/birth parents. Best practice will include training social workers to anticipate both the logistical and emotional needs of searchers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
birth families, contact, adopted people, post adoption services;
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 43(1), 2021, pp.8-22.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Despite the widespread ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children continue to struggle to have their participation rights recognised and supported. This is evident within family law, where despite sometimes progressive and strong legislation, children’s views are often not heard, nor given due weight, when parent-child contact is contested within the courts
(Edited publisher abstract)
Despite the widespread ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, children continue to struggle to have their participation rights recognised and supported. This is evident within family law, where despite sometimes progressive and strong legislation, children’s views are often not heard, nor given due weight, when parent-child contact is contested within the courts. This paper explores barriers to children’s participation rights being realised. It uses Scotland as the example, due to its strong legal safeguards and mechanisms that aim to support participation rights. The paper draws on recent empirical research with legal professionals, combined with an analysis of reported case law and relevant literature, to explore the barriers ‘on the ground’ for children’s participation rights. Through our analysis, we offer new ways to conceptualise the notion of influence in children’s participation rights in family actions. We offer the conceptual devices of ‘the influenced child’ and ‘the influential child’ to elucidate how children’s participation rights are restricted.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Professional Social Work, December 2019/January 2020, pp.22-23.
Publisher:
British Association of Social Workers
A description of Siblings Reunited (STAR), an award-winning project which is helping to promote regular contact between brothers and sisters who have been separated by the care system. Based in a rural farmland setting in Fife, Scotland, around 100 young people come to the site every month to to spend quality supervised contact with their brothers and sisters.
(Edited publisher abstract)
A description of Siblings Reunited (STAR), an award-winning project which is helping to promote regular contact between brothers and sisters who have been separated by the care system. Based in a rural farmland setting in Fife, Scotland, around 100 young people come to the site every month to to spend quality supervised contact with their brothers and sisters.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
case studies, contact, looked after children, siblings;
CHILDREN AND FAMILY COURT ADVISORY AND SUPPORT SERVICE, WOMEN'S AID
Publishers:
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, Women's Aid
Publication year:
2017
Pagination:
30
Place of publication:
London
Sets out the findings of a small-scale study which looked at allegations of domestic abuse within a sample 216 of family court cases where the application was for contact with a child. Qualitative data was also collected from 40 cases where domestic abuse was alleged to explore the impact of domestic abuse on children. The study found that domestic abuse was alleged in almost two-thirds of cases
(Edited publisher abstract)
Sets out the findings of a small-scale study which looked at allegations of domestic abuse within a sample 216 of family court cases where the application was for contact with a child. Qualitative data was also collected from 40 cases where domestic abuse was alleged to explore the impact of domestic abuse on children. The study found that domestic abuse was alleged in almost two-thirds of cases, with fathers more likely to be the subject of allegations than mothers. It also found it was uncommon for domestic abuse allegations to feature in isolation from other safeguarding concerns. Domestic abuse had a significant impact on children, with younger children were receiving support at school to improve their attendance and help with socialisation, while older children were receiving more specialist support, such as counselling.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
domestic violence, Family Courts, contact, safeguarding children;
Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 37(1), 2015, pp.53-69.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
Domestic violence is the most common welfare issue raised in private law contact proceedings. A wide range of studies has shown that judicial decisions about contact which fail to take safety into account endanger women and children physically and emotionally. Yet a presumption that contact is in the best interests of the child, combined with an increasing focus on fathers' rights, casts long...
(Edited publisher abstract)
Domestic violence is the most common welfare issue raised in private law contact proceedings. A wide range of studies has shown that judicial decisions about contact which fail to take safety into account endanger women and children physically and emotionally. Yet a presumption that contact is in the best interests of the child, combined with an increasing focus on fathers' rights, casts long shadows over legal judgments, policy frameworks and individual cases. This article presents research which examined child contact proceedings as a legal process to identify if, how and when domestic violence was factored into judicial decision making. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 34 women who had recently completed, or were currently undergoing, proceedings, this article highlights how two aspects of private law Children Act proceedings diminished women's safety: the absence of special facilities in family courts and gaps in legal representation for both victim-survivors and perpetrators.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Part of a new Social Work Pocketbook series in association with Community Care, this is a guide to setting up and managing contact visits with looked after children. Identifies the day-to-day challenges associated with this fundamental aspect of working in children and families services. Includes practical examples, advice and tips, examples of common pitfalls and how to avoid them, point of law
(Publisher abstract)
Part of a new Social Work Pocketbook series in association with Community Care, this is a guide to setting up and managing contact visits with looked after children. Identifies the day-to-day challenges associated with this fundamental aspect of working in children and families services. Includes practical examples, advice and tips, examples of common pitfalls and how to avoid them, point of law reminders and checklists for easy reference.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
childrens social care, looked after children, young people, contact;