| Abstract: | This paper presents findings from a study of children lookedafter by 24 local authorities. It combines analysis of statisticaldata with analysis of qualitative and quantitative data froma questionnaire survey of a targeted sub-sample of childrenwho had been looked after for 4 years or more. The paper highlightsa complex picture of continuity and discontinuity in attemptsto achieve stability and permanence in a range of birth family,foster care, adoption, residential and leaving care placementsfor long-stay children. Some long-stay children are moving smoothlyand in a planned way towards a family for life, while some experiencelong periods in stable but temporary placements or have a numberof moves prior to finding stability and a sense of belonging.A further group of children experience stability or moves whilelooked after, without having a family to belong to when theymove into adult life. The paper discusses the difficulty withthe Government’s current long-stay performance measurein capturing the difference between stability in placement andplanned permanence for children and families. |
