The UK ‘Looking After Children’ Project: Fit for ‘out-of-home care’ practice in Australia?

Abstract

This paper, based on material previously presented at the ACWA Biennial Conference in Sydney, describes the design, development and implementation of the ‘Looking After Children’ practice and management materials in the UK. The paper traces the research and practice background to the trialing of these out-of-home care assessment and planning materials in the UK, where they are expected to be adopted and implemented by all statutory agencies by the end of 1998. The international interest in the Assessment and Action Record is supported by an exploration of the arguments for child-focussed assessment and planning for ‘placement as a process – not an event’. Finally there is coverage of the three recently completed pilot projects in Western Australia. An argument is made for the adoption and adaptation of these materials as potential practice standards for the ‘State as parent’.

Personal reflections on needs and services for young people leaving care: From local to international to national (1996–2005)

“…The Looking After Children system's Assessment and Action Record could be the framework tool for the preparation stage when Care Plans are under annual review (Clare 1997;Kufeldt, Simard & Vachon 2003), enhanced by the introduction of Life Story Work with all children in care for more than 12 months; this would facilitate an informed sense of their identity and family history prior to a 'Family Group Meeting' with the young person's active involvement. There is consistent research evidence of the loneliness and isolation of many care graduates -and of their ambivalence about continued dependence; creative solutions need to be negotiated with each care leaver (Mendes 2005;Penglase 2004).…”

Looking After Children: a case of individualised service delivery

“…Many writers express a general concern about these children's experience in the care system (Wise 1999;Clark and Burke 1998;Donovan and Ayres 1998;Owen, Jones and Corrick 1998;Clare 1997). Many writers express a general concern about these children's experience in the care system (Wise 1999;Clark and Burke 1998;Donovan and Ayres 1998;Owen, Jones and Corrick 1998;Clare 1997).…”

“…Many writers express a general concern about these children's experience in the care system (Wise 1999;Clark and Burke 1998;Donovan and Ayres 1998;Owen, Jones and Corrick 1998;Clare 1997). al.1998) and of decision-making in child welfare practice (Clare 1997, Wise 1999; and a lack of national standards and consensus about standards (Wise 1999, Clare 1997. al.1998) and of decision-making in child welfare practice (Clare 1997, Wise 1999; and a lack of national standards and consensus about standards (Wise 1999, Clare 1997.…”

“…Wise (1999), Murphy and Phillips (1998), Clare (1997), and Ward (1996) point out that lack of an outcomes assessment model has meant that there has been no available tool to measure the effectiveness of practice interventions for children in care (see also Jackson 1998: 48-49). Wise (1999), Murphy and Phillips (1998), Clare (1997), and Ward (1996) point out that lack of an outcomes assessment model has meant that there has been no available tool to measure the effectiveness of practice interventions for children in care (see also Jackson 1998: 48-49).…”

Editorial

“…The system has been described in some detail in an earlier issue of this journal (Clare 1997). Dr Harriet Ward, who had much to do with its development, is visiting Australia in November, participating in visits and workshops at some of the sites where its potential is being explored here.…”