Regional variations in care planning in Northern Ireland: Proposing an ecological model of decision-making

Abstract

Care planning for children who enter care can be influenced by a range of factors. In Northern Ireland, there are differences in the proportions of children in different types of placements across the five Health and Social Care Trusts (equivalent to local authorities in England and Wales). The aim of the study was to identify the reasons for these differences. In order to do that, focus groups in each of the Trusts were conducted with social work professionals involved in care planning. Based on the study findings, an ecological model of decision-making in care planning is postulated. Differences among all of the Trusts were found within the model’s three levels, despite all of the Trusts operating under the same broad policy framework for care planning. For instance, different mindsets were evident, as participants in some of the Trusts clearly equated the notion that children should be provided with a permanent home with adoption, while in focus groups in other Trusts, this mindset did not prevail. In addition, the Trust structures and initiatives differed slightly and there were differences in the global context factors influencing decision-making. Based on these findings, we believe regional practical guidance and policies should be developed collectively by the five Trusts, so as to avoid the possibility of children facing a postcode lottery regarding the placements offered to them.

Exploring the multi-dimensionality of permanence and stability: Emotions, experiences and temporality in young people’s discourses about long-term foster care in Ireland

“…This broadly corresponds to McGregor et al (2019) on the centrality of power gradients in social worker's relationships with biological parents and young people, and international research documenting systemic factors, like social worker's attitudes and organisational socialisation of care workers which negatively affects service users' emotional wellbeing (cf. Fargas-Malet and McSherry, 2018).…”

Using text-based vignettes in qualitative social work research

“…Vignettes can be the sole focus of the interview or integrated as one part of the topic guide either at the beginning of the interview (Åkerlind et al, 2019; Bain, 2008, 2020; Callegari et al, 2022; Darlington et al, 2010; McCafferty et al, 2021; Sanfelici, 2021) or later in the interview (Enroos et al, 2017; Fargas-Malet and McSherry, 2020; Käkelä, 2020). When administering the vignette the participants need to be clear from whose perspective they should answer it: ‘There are a number of ways that participants may respond: (1) from the viewpoint of the vignette characters; (2) people more generally; or (3) the participant’s own viewpoint’.…”

“…• Care planning (Fargas-Malet and McSherry, 2020;McCafferty et al, 2021;McCafferty and Taylor, 2022;Zeijlmans et al, 2019), • Child protection (Drury-Hudson, 1999;McCafferty and Taylor, 2022) and • Multi-agency working together (Engwall et al, 2019;Roets et al, 2016).…”

“…to explore a wide range of topics including but not limited to• Adult safeguarding (Graham et al, 2017; Stevens et al, 2010, 2020),• Care planning (Fargas-Malet and McSherry, 2020; McCafferty et al, 2021; McCafferty and Taylor, 2022; Zeijlmans et al, 2019),• Child protection (Drury-Hudson, 1999; McCafferty and Taylor, 2022) and• Multi-agency working together (Engwall et al, 2019; Roets et al, 2016). …”

“…• Care planning (Fargas-Malet and McSherry, 2020; McCafferty et al, 2021; McCafferty and Taylor, 2022; Zeijlmans et al, 2019),…”