Beyond contactEuropean Perspectives on Work with Families of Children Placed Away From Home

Janet Boddy

The study

Funded by the Nuffield Foundation

Project teamUK Janet Boddy, University of Sussex

June Statham, Institute of Education

Denmark Inge Danielsen, University College Copenhagen

France Hélène Join-Lambert and Séverine Euillet, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense

Netherlands Esther Geurts, Netherlands Youth Institute

http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/news/beyond-contact-work-families-children-placed-away-home

Aims

• Learning from difference: fresh perspectives from

cross-national work• Stimulating reflection and discussion, not evaluating

effectiveness• Sharing approaches to similar problems• Implications for policy and practice development in

England

- Ongoing policy concern including

Children and Families Bill development

ContextsFrance Denmark Netherlands England

Total population (m) 64.7 5.6 16.7 63.2

Looked after children (N) 133,671 12,565 40,450 68,110

Rate of LAC per 10,000 under 18 years 93 104 114 60

% of LAC in foster care 53% 51% 54% 75%

% of LAC in residential care 39% 40% 46% 9%

% of LAC placements involving some delegation of parental authority

2.5% 12% 20% 73%*Care Orders 59%

Placement Orders 14%

From contact to involvement?

• Keeping informed

• Delegated authority and ‘symbolic’ decisions

• ‘Contact’ or being together: samvær‘[Parents] can come whenever they feel like, drink a cup of coffee,

dine with the group, or take part in the cosy time in the evening.’

(Residential home described in Danish policy guidance, 2011)

• Intervention to address the problems that led to

placement

• Dedicated support (mandated in law) for parents of

looked after children in Denmark and Netherlands

Beyond contact

Children return home from careRelationships with families continue in care, after leaving

care and into adulthoodEven when there is no ‘contact’, family forms part of identity;

children and families need to come to terms with separationDistinguishing aims and approaches

• Intervention with family problems

• Maintaining relationships and involvement

• Support wider family networks for the future

• Psychological understanding and future

relationships