Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T20:36:50.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Extent of Stability and Relational Permanence Achieved for Young Children in Care in Northern Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2018

Dominic McSherry  and
Montserrat Fargas Malet
Dominic McSherry
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Montserrat Fargas Malet*
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
*
address for correspondence: Dr Montserrat Fargas Malet, Research Fellow, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1LP NorthernIreland. E-mail: m.fargas@qub.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Placement stability is sought for children who enter care and need a place to call home. This is deemed to be necessary for the formation and continuation of secure and loving relationships with parents and carers. However, the term placement stability does not capture the quality of the placement or the subjective experience of the young person. In contrast, the term relational permanence denotes an enduring and supportive relationship between a young person and a caring adult. Research studies have tended to focus on placement stability, or legal and physical permanence, and overlook relational permanence. Within the current study, we found high levels of long-term placement stability for the study population, 354 young people who were under five and in care in Northern Ireland on the 31st March 2000. Placements for those who were adopted, on Residence Order, and rehabilitated with birth parents were more likely to be stable than those in long-term foster care and kinship foster care. However, early interview data with 30 young people and/or their parents/carers revealed high levels of relational permanence, irrespective of placement type, and that placement disruption did not necessarily mean a breakdown in the relationship. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Keywords

foster careadoptionadolescents
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 43 , Special Issue 2: Understanding Outcomes for Care Experienced Children , June 2018 , pp. 124 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ainsworth, F., & Hansen, P. (2014). Family foster care: Can it survive the evidence?. Children Australia, 39 (2), 87–92.Google Scholar
Aldgate, J., & Jones, D. (2005). The place of attachment in children's development. In Aldgate, J., Jones, D., Rose, W. & Jeffrey, C. (Eds.), The developing world of the child. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Andersen, S. H., & Fallesen, P. (2015). Family matters? The effect of kinship care on foster care disruption rates. Child Abuse & Neglect, 48, 68–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beek, M. J. (2014). Security and permanence in long-term foster care: Family relationships and professional systems. PhD Thesis (April 2014). University of East Anglia, Norwich.Google Scholar
Biehal, N., Ellison, S., Baker, C., & Sinclair, I. (2010). Belonging and permanence: Outcomes in long-term foster care and adoption. London: BAAF.Google Scholar
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research Psychology, 3, 77–101.Google Scholar
Cashmore, J., & Paxman, M. (2006). Predicting after-care outcomes: The importance of ‘felt’ security. Child & Family Social Work, 11 (3), 232–241.Google Scholar
Cushing, G., Samuels, G. M., & Kerman, B. (2014). Profiles of relational permanence at 22: Variability in parental supports and outcomes among young adults with foster care histories. Children and Youth Services Review, 39, 73–83.Google Scholar
Hedin, L. (2017). Support and challenges in the process of leaving care: A Swedish qualitative follow-up study of foster youth's lived experiences. Qualitative Social Work, 16 (4), 500–514.Google Scholar
Lowe, N., Murch, M., Bader, K., Borkowski, M., Copner, R., Lisles, C., & Shearman, J. (2002). The plan for the child: Adoption or long-term fostering. London: BAAF.Google Scholar
McSherry, D., Fargas Malet, M., & Weatherall, K. (2013). Comparing long-term placements for young children in care: The care pathways and outcomes study – Northern Ireland. London: British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF).Google Scholar
McSherry, D., Fargas Malet, M., & Weatherall, K. (2016). Comparing long-term placements for young children in care: Does placement type matter?. Children & Youth Services Review, 69, 56–66.Google Scholar
Oosterman, M., Schuengel, C., Slot, N. W., Bullens, R. A., & Doreleijers, T. A. (2007). Disruptions in foster care: A review and meta-analysis. Children and Youth Services Review, 29 (1), 53–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rock, S., Michelson, D., Thomson, S., & Day, C. (2013). Understanding foster placement instability for looked after children: A systematic review and narrative synthesis of quantitative and qualitative evidence. British Journal of Social Work, 45 (1), 177–203.Google Scholar
Rubin, D. M., O'Reilly, A. L. R., Luan, X., & Localio, A. R. (2007). The impact of placement stability on behavioral well-being for children in foster care. Pediatrics, 119, 336–344.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1995). Clinical implications of attachment concepts: Retrospect and prospect. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Applied Disciplines, 36 (4), 465–476.Google Scholar
Samuels, G. M. (2009). Ambiguous loss of home: The experience of familial (im)permanence among young adults with foster care backgrounds. Children and Youth Services Review, 31 (12), 1229–1239.Google Scholar
Sanchez, R. M. (2004). Youth perspectives on permanency. San Francisco: California Permanency for Youth Project.Google Scholar
Schofield, G. (2003). Part of the family. London: BAAF.Google Scholar
Schofield, G., & Beek, M. (2009). Growing up in foster care: Providing a secure base through adolescence. Child and Family Social Work, 7 (1), 3–26.Google Scholar
Sellick, C., Thoburn, J., & Philpot, T. (2004). What works in adoption and foster care?. London: Barnado's/BAAF.Google Scholar
Selwyn, J., & Quinton, D. (2004). Stability, permanence, outcomes and support: Foster care and adoption compared. Adoption & Fostering, 28 (4), 6–15.Google Scholar
Selwyn, J., Sturgess, W., Quinton, D., & Baxter, C. (2006). Cost and outcomes of non-infant adoptions. London: BAAF.Google Scholar
Selwyn, J., Wijedasa, D., & Meakings, S. (2014). Beyond the adoption order: Challenges, interventions and adoption disruption. Research Report. London: Department for Education.Google Scholar
Semanchin Jones, A., & LaLiberte, T. (2013). Measuring youth connections: A component of relational permanence for foster youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 35 (3), 509–517.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sinclair, I. (2005). Fostering now: Messages from research. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Baker, C., Wilson, K., & Gibbs, I. (2003). What happens to foster children? Report 3 of the supporting fostering project. York: Social Work Research and Development Unit, University of York.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Baker, C., Wilson, K., & Gibbs, I. (2005). Foster children: Where they go and how they get on. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Sinclair, I., Wilson, K., & Gibbs, I. (2000). Supporting foster placements: Report 2 of the supporting fostering project. York: Social Work Research and Development Unit, University of York.Google Scholar
Thoburn, J. (1991). Evaluating placement: An overview of 1,165 placements and some methodological issues. In Fratter, J., Rowe, J., Sapsford, D., & Thoburn, J. (Eds.), Permanent family placement. London: BAAF.Google Scholar
Thoburn, J., Norford, L., & Parvez Rashid, S. (2000). Permanent family placement for children of minority ethnic origin. London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Thompson, A. E., & Greeson, J. K. P. (2015). Legal and relational permanence in older foster care youths. Social Work Today, 15 (4), 24.Google Scholar
Triseliotis, J. (2002). Long-term foster care or adoption? The evidence examined. Child and Family Social Work, 7 (1), 23–33.Google Scholar
Vinnerljung, B., Sallnäs, M., & Berlin, M. (2017). Placement breakdowns in long-term foster care – A regional Swedish study. Child and Family Social Work, 22, 15–25.Google Scholar
Ward, H., Munro, E. R., & Dearden, C. (2006). Babies and young children in care: Life pathways, decision-making and practice. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.Google Scholar
Ward, H., Munro, E. R., Dearden, C., & Nicholson, D. (2003). Outcomes for looked after children: Life pathways and decision-making for very young children in care or accommodation. Loughborough: Centre for Child and Family Research.Google Scholar
Wilson, K., Sinclair, I., Taylor, C., Pithouse, A., & Sellick, A. (2004). Fostering success: An exploration of the research literature in foster care. London: SCIE.Google Scholar