Keeping them in the family
This study provides invaluable information on the benefits and challenges of kinship care and how to use it effectively. The study tracked 113 children in England, removed from their parents’ care due to child protection concerns and placed with kin through the courts. The kinship situations were then assessed in terms of: whether they lasted as long as necessary and provided good quality and safe care; the quality of the relationship between the child and carer; and how well the child was functioning.
This is an interesting study, given the increased use of kinship care and the current prominence of looked after children. Current emphasis on how best to structure policy and practice in this area also means that this book will be of great use to those involved in this field.
This study is essential reading for all those concerned with care planning within local authorities and the courts, as well as policymakers in local and central government. It will also be of interest to academics with an interest in child welfare, and organisations working with, or representing, children needing substitute care, their parents, and their carers.
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Reviews
This book derives from a study which examined the medium-term outcomes for 113 children removed from their parents’ care because of child protection concerns and placed with kinship carers. As the authors acknowledge, special guardianship was not available when the research was undertaken. But the significance of assessment, of identifying protective and risk factors, of facilitating contact and of recognising the special challenges of kinship care, are relevant whatever the legal status. The authors make a strong case for developing kinship care in the interests of children and I believe the book will prove a useful resource for practitioners, managers and policy makers.
British Association of Social Workers, Professional Social Work
The placement of children in kinship care in the UK continues to be on the increase for a number of reasons and yet, until recently, there has been a paucity of research studies and practice guidance to inform its use. This comprehensive book is therefore a welcome addition to the growing knowledge base in this area. The authors incorporate information about many aspects of kinship care, resulting directly from the research, which will be of interest to practitioners, policy makers and academics alike. The book does what it sets out to do and offers a clearly-written and comprehensive look at current knowledge of the main aspects of kinship care. Keeping Them in the Family is an accessible read and a valuable source of information for all professionals and academics with an interest in this area.
Cheryl Burgess, Adoption and Fostering, 33:2