What Contributes to Outcomes for Neglected Children Who Are Reunified with Their Parents? Findings from a Five-Year Follow-Up Study

Lutman, Eleanor; Farmer, Elaine

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcr184

Cited by 26 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The figures for re-entry reported in this review show that this percentage has increased from 52% (Packman & Hall, 1998) to 63% (Biehal et al, 2015). Lutman and Farmer (2012) reported that the number of different placements children experienced after reunifications ranged between one and 30. Failed reunifications can have serious implications for children in terms of their long-term attachment, emotional and behavioural stability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Two studies were prospective longitudinal designs (Brandon & Thoburn, 2008;Farmer, 2012;Farmer & Wijedasa, 2013;Lutman & Farmer, 2012), three retrospective longitudinal designs (Biehal, Sinclair, & Wade, 2015;Broadhurst & Pendleton, 2007;Murphy & Fairtlough, 2015), and one followed a qualitative approach (Malet et al, 2009). Follow-up periods for the longitudinal studies ranged from 2 (Farmer, 2012;Farmer & Wijedasa, 2013;Murphy & Fairtlough, 2015) to 8 years (Brandon & Thoburn, 2008).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three articles limited their sample to children accommodated due to abuse or neglect (Biehal et al, 2015;Lutman & Farmer, 2012;Murphy & Fairtlough, 2015). All studies used samples recruited from LAs.…”

Section: Sample Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figures reported for re-entry into care ranged from 47% (Farmer & Wijedasa, 2013) to 63% (Biehal et al, 2015) with wide variation in rates of stability between LAs (Biehal et al, 2015;Brandon & Thoburn, 2008;Farmer, 2012;Farmer & Wijedasa, 2013;Lutman & Farmer, 2012;Murphy & Fairtlough, 2015). Figures reported for re-entry into care ranged from 47% (Farmer & Wijedasa, 2013) to 63% (Biehal et al, 2015) with wide variation in rates of stability between LAs (Biehal et al, 2015;Brandon & Thoburn, 2008;Farmer, 2012;Farmer & Wijedasa, 2013;Lutman & Farmer, 2012;Murphy & Fairtlough, 2015).…”

Section: Outcomes Of Reunificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom: A literature review and thematic synthesis

Carlson

Hutton

Priest

et al. 2019

Child & Family Social Work

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Background: Reunification of looked-after children with their birth parents is the most common route to permanency for looked-after children in the United Kingdom.Previous research evidence, mainly from American studies, suggests numerous factors that contribute to successful reunification outcomes (Biehal, 2007). Less is known about the current evidence base for reunification practice in the United Kingdom.Objective: This review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize published literature concerned with the reunification of looked-after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom. Methods:A systematic search of the literature identified eight peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2005 and 2017 exploring reunification practice in the United Kingdom. Studies were critically appraised and thematically synthesized according to the Thomas and Harden (2008) approach.Results: Eight articles met eligibility criteria. Descriptive themes were support, case management, oscillation, parenting, and reoccurrence of abuse. Analytic themes were lack of guidance and risks associated with return. Conclusions:A pattern of oscillation between home and care was common for many looked-after children, and remaining in care produced relatively better outcomes. Difficulties arise when comparing studies on reunification, due to methodological variation. Further research is needed to explore the views of reunited children themselves.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sample Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Outcomes Of Reunificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom: A literature review and thematic synthesis

Carlson

Hutton

Priest

et al. 2019

Child & Family Social Work

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“…Above all, there is an absence of help from specialists and/or people in the residential area of biological families. Various authors believe that formal and informal support for parents and children in the phase following reunification is the most important task (Farmer & Wijedasa, ; Lutman & Farmer, ; Thomas, Chenot, & Reifel, ). Attention has been paid to the fact that at the level of informal support, a network of good social relationships with friends, family members, and neighbours should be built and maintained.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Professional foster families in the reunification process—Polish experience

Basiaga

Róg

Zięba-Kołodziej

2018

Child & Family Social Work

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We researched the extent to which professional foster families fulfil their tasks to reintegrate families, what attitudes professional foster families assume towards the idea of reintegration, and to what extent and how professional foster families support a child separated from his or her family and parents in the process of reintegration. The research examined case studies of a sample of 58 professional foster families functioning as emergency shelter families in the Province of Silesia. The most Polish professional foster families assume a negative attitude towards reintegration. Moreover, some of the parents who participated in the research thought that most biological parents with difficulties should be deprived of their parental rights. The result of such attitudes is that foster parents make it difficult, in a variety of ways, for the biological parents to contact their child placed in foster care. Foster parents' full commitment to work related to restoring and maintaining emotional bonds between the children in foster care and their families is rarely noticeable. The foster families participating in the research were committed to an even lesser extent to the process of support for biological parents in developing their parental skills and attempts to have their child care rights restored.

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Working Effectively with Neglected Children and Their Families – What Needs To Change?

Farmer

Lutman

2014

Child Abuse Review

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Since practitioners have little research to inform them about how to keep neglected children safe and improve their outcomes, we conducted a study about how risks are managed over time. The research in seven local authorities involved 138 neglected children who were returned from care to their parents and followed up for another five years through reviews of case files and interviews with social workers.Work with neglected children and their families was dogged by 'inescapable errors', which we argue will always occur in work over time and need to be deliberately interrupted. Parents were difficult to engage, and over time abuse and neglect were often minimised so that referrals about harm to children did not lead to sufficient protective action. Parents were given too many chances to change, and files lacked information on the development of children on which decisions about intervention could be based. Using written contracts with parents would assist practitioners to assess parental capacity to make the changes required. A new approach to working with neglected children is required which will allow patterns of children's developmental and other progress to be recognised over time, rooted in collecting evidence which could be used in care proceedings if required.

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What Contributes to Outcomes for Neglected Children Who Are Reunified with Their Parents? Findings from a Five-Year Follow-Up Study

Cited by 26 publications

References 9 publications

Reunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom: A literature review and thematic synthesis

Reunification of looked‐after children with their birth parents in the United Kingdom: A literature review and thematic synthesis

Professional foster families in the reunification process—Polish experience

Working Effectively with Neglected Children and Their Families – What Needs To Change?

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