Making Research Count (University of York)
TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
RESEARCH BRIEFINGS SEMINAR SERIES 2011-12
The focus of these seminars is to present recent research and related findings and to explore their potential implementation in policy and practice. This seminar is aimed at staff with policy, operational or training responsibilities for the development and delivery of children’s services in social work and social care, as well as those working in health and education.
When is it safe for maltreated children to go home?
Making the right decisions for reunification or long-term care
Jim Wade, Senior Research Fellow
Social Policy Research Unit, University of York
Date: Wednesday 1st February 2012
Time: 2.00pm – 4.15pm (registration from 1.30pm)
Venue: Conference Suite, Innovation Centre, York Science Park
Separating maltreated children from their parents and either returning them home or providing them with long-term alternative care are amongst the most serious interventions made by children’s social care services. The decisions associated with separation and return are very difficult to take and have long-term consequences for the children and families concerned. This seminar is concerned with what happens to children as a result of these decisions and will share important new findings that have emerged from a study that formed part of the Government’s safeguarding children research initiative.
Our study investigated the care pathways of maltreated children and, in particular, compared the progress and outcomes of 149 children, some of whom went back home while others remained looked after. By knowing more about how things turn out for children who do or do not go home, about when and in what circumstances the prospects for reunification appear good and about the planning and support that is needed to give families the best chance of success, it should be possible to improve decision-making, interventions and outcomes for this particularly vulnerable group of children. Alongside this, our study also has much to say about the strengths and limitations of substitute care for children who have previously been abused and neglected by their families and about the influence that local authorities and social work teams may have on the care pathways of these children.
Jim Wade is a qualified social worker with a background in youth and community work and social work with teenagers. He is a Senior Research Fellow in the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York. Over the past 20 years he has researched and published widely in the area of social work and related services for vulnerable groups of children and young people, including looked after children, care leavers, young runaways and asylum-seeking and refugee children.
Jim has also prepared government sponsored best practice guides and official guidance on services for care leavers and young runaways, has a prominent role in academic networks and has acted as consultant to national and international research initiatives in these areas. Jim’s recent publications include (with Nina Biehal, Nicola Farrelly and Ian Sinclair): Caring for Abused and Neglected Children: Making the Right Decisions for Reunification or Long-Term Care (2011), Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
The seminars in this series are free for nominated staff from member agencies of Making Research Count (University of York) (see overleaf for details) and open to staff from other agencies at a fee of £50 per seminar. A Booking Form can be found overleaf – please return to your Making Research Count (York) contact in your agency if you come from a member agency.
List of Children’s Services Contacts for Making Research Count (University of York)
LOCAL AUTHORITY NAME TELEPHONE EMAIL
City of York Council Christine Shipley 01904 553026
East Riding Angela Grasby 01482 396411
Hull Janice Barnby 01482 318479
Leeds Kirsty Haynes 0113 224 3522
North East Lincolnshire Ros Garrod-Mason 01472 298 35
North Yorkshire CYPS Workforce 01609 533258
Development Unit
Wakefield Aga Knowles 01924 305690
Booking Form Research Briefings Seminar Series 2011-12
When is it safe for maltreated children to go home?
Presented by Jim Wade
Wednesday 1st February 2012
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 17th January 2012
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q I am a nominated member of staff from a member agency of Making Research Count (University of York)
and my attendance has been agreed by the contact for my agency – see above - and so there is no charge
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(This fee is only refundable for cancellations received more than 14 days before the event)
q Please send invoice for £50 to:
(This fee is only refundable for cancellations received more than 14 days before the event)
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Please return Booking Form to the Making Research Count (York) contact in your agency (please see list above for contact details).
If you are from another agency, and/or paying full price please return Booking Form to:
Jane Phythian, Making Research Count (University of York), Dept. of Social Policy & Social Work, University of York, Heslington, YORK, YO10 5DD