The Mental Health Needs of Looked after Children in a Local Authority Permanent Placement Team and the Value of the Goodman SDQ

Abstract

Lin Richards, Nola Wood and Luisa Ruiz-Calzada investigated the current level of emotional and behavioural need and pre- and post-care experiences for children placed in one local authority social care department permanent placement team. A cohort of 41 looked after children was assessed by foster carers, teachers and young people aged 11–16 years themselves, using the Goodman Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results were related to a number of factors taken from each child's individual historical experiences as understood from their social work files. The results supported the growing body of research indicating that the mental health needs of looked after children are significantly higher than those of the general population. A range of factors was found to reach statistical significance in relation to increased mental health difficulties. The research highlighted the complex and multi-factorial nature of the experiences of the looked after cohort that contribute to overall emotional well-being and positive mental health. The study also sought to identify a suitable screening tool for the early identification of mental health need and Goodman's SDQ is discussed in this light.

Children after adoption: Exploring their psychological needs

“…The SDQ total problem score for our sample (14.97) is similar to that previously reported for a LAC sample (Richards, Wood, & Ruiz-Calzada, 2006), and significantly higher than the national sample mean score (8.4). The mean impact score in our sample was 2.87 (SD = 3.19), seven times higher, compared to the national sample mean impact score of .4 (SD = 1.1).…”

Mental Health Needs of Adolescents Assessed During the Years of Global Financial Crisis: a Systematic Review

“…An earlier study among 5 to 15 year olds identified over 70% as having conduct, hyperactivity, depressive and some anxiety disorders ( 30 ). Moreover, it is found that the mental health needs of looked after children are significantly higher than those of the general population ( 31 ). In a study among looked after children aged 11-18 years, 25% had a probable conduct disorder, 6% a probable emotional disorder and 2% a probable hyperactivity disorder ( 32 ).…”

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): A Proxy Measure of Parenting Stress

“…A vast body of international research has highlighted the prevalence of emotional and behavioural difficulties among children in care and adopted from care (McCarthy et al, 2003;Meltzer et al, 2003;Richards et al, 2006;Connell et al, 2006;Vanderploeg et al, 2007;Sempik et al, 2008;Vostanis, 2010;Pecora et al, 2010;Stein & Dumaret, 2011;Dregan, Brown, & Armstrong, 2011;Radford et al, 2011;Courtney et al, 2013;McSherry, Fargas Malet, McLaughlin et al, 2015; Havlicek abnormal range on the SDQ Total Difficulties score, based on parent and carer reports (Dunne & Kettler, 2008;Milburn et al, 2008;Egelund & Lausten, 2009;Biehal et al, 2010;McSherry, Fargas Malet and Weatherall, 2016). This is not surprising considering that these children are likely to have experienced early life stress (ELS), and there is a well-established link between the experience of early adversity and behavioural problems (Hanson et al, 2015).…”