Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Children and Youth Services Review. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Children and Youth Services Review, 89, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.041
Accepted author manuscript, 853 KB, PDF document
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
In-home support or out of home care? Thresholds for intervention with abused and neglected children. / Biehal, Nina; Baldwin, Helen; Cusworth, Linda Suzanne et al.
In: Children and Youth Services Review, Vol. 89, 06.2018, p. 263-271.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - In-home support or out of home care?
T2 - Thresholds for intervention with abused and neglected children
AU - Biehal, Nina
AU - Baldwin, Helen
AU - Cusworth, Linda Suzanne
AU - Wade, Jim
AU - Allgar, Victoria
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Children and Youth Services Review. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Children and Youth Services Review, 89, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.041
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - The number of children referred to the English child protection system and the numbers receiving home-based intervention or placed in out of home care have been rising in recent years. It is difficult to judge whether these changes indicate that thresholds for intervention are low or high, as we know little about the severity of the maltreatment that draws children into the child protection system in England. This study compared the histories, circumstances and pathways of children receiving quasi-compulsory home-based support (under a child protection plan) to those for children ever placed in out of home care. It collected detailed data from the social workers of 390 children and is the first UK study to include a standardised measure of the severity of maltreatment, the Modified Maltreatment Classification System (MMCS). It found that the vast majority of children had experienced multiple types of maltreatment, including at least one type of high severity, suggesting that thresholds for the use of child protection plans and placement were high. The strongest predictors of placement (as opposed to home-based support) were severity of maltreatment, being unborn or under one year old at referral, being disabled and experiencing physical abuse. Findings are discussed in the context of developments in policy and services under the English government’s austerity programme.
AB - The number of children referred to the English child protection system and the numbers receiving home-based intervention or placed in out of home care have been rising in recent years. It is difficult to judge whether these changes indicate that thresholds for intervention are low or high, as we know little about the severity of the maltreatment that draws children into the child protection system in England. This study compared the histories, circumstances and pathways of children receiving quasi-compulsory home-based support (under a child protection plan) to those for children ever placed in out of home care. It collected detailed data from the social workers of 390 children and is the first UK study to include a standardised measure of the severity of maltreatment, the Modified Maltreatment Classification System (MMCS). It found that the vast majority of children had experienced multiple types of maltreatment, including at least one type of high severity, suggesting that thresholds for the use of child protection plans and placement were high. The strongest predictors of placement (as opposed to home-based support) were severity of maltreatment, being unborn or under one year old at referral, being disabled and experiencing physical abuse. Findings are discussed in the context of developments in policy and services under the English government’s austerity programme.
KW - Child protection plans
KW - Maltreatment severity
KW - Foster Care
KW - Austerity
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.041
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.041
M3 - Journal article
VL - 89
SP - 263
EP - 271
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
SN - 0190-7409
ER -