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Adoption and child protection trends for children aged under five in England: Increasing investigations and hidden separation of children from their parents

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  • Bilson, Andy
  • Munro, Elizabeth Hunter

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of the ‘investigative turn’ in England by comparing two large cohorts of children, one whose fifth birthday was in 2011–12 and the other in 2016–17. It shows a 35% increase in children investigated before their fifth birthday to a rate of one in every 16 children in 2017. Investigations were less likely to lead to a child protection plan and there was a 60% increase in children facing the collateral damage of an unfounded investigation. Where it was deemed necessary to respond to child protection concerns with a plan of action concerns were focussed less on immediate safety and more on the long-term effects of neglect or emotional harm caused by a range of family related problems. The rate of children separated from their parents at the age of five had substantially increased and there were wide variations in adoption and child protection trends between local authorities. The study shows that the chances of a family receiving support or being split up are determined by national and local policies, resources and a growing culture of child rescue responses to family difficulties.

Suggested Citation

  • Bilson, Andy & Munro, Elizabeth Hunter, 2019. "Adoption and child protection trends for children aged under five in England: Increasing investigations and hidden separation of children from their parents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 204-211.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:96:y:2019:i:c:p:204-211
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.11.052
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rouland, B. & Vaithianathan, R., 2018. "Cumulative prevalence of maltreatment among New Zealand children, 1998–2015," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(4), pages 511-513.
    2. Calum J. R. Webb & Paul Bywaters, 2018. "Austerity, rationing and inequity: trends in children’s and young peoples’ services expenditure in England between 2010 and 2015," Local Government Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(3), pages 391-415, May.
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    4. Kim, H. & Wildeman, C. & Jonson-Reid, M. & Drake, B., 2017. "Lifetime prevalence of investigating child maltreatment among US children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(2), pages 274-280.
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    6. Gibson, Matthew, 2016. "Constructing pride, shame, and humiliation as a mechanism of control: A case study of an English local authority child protection service," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 120-128.
    7. Delfabbro, Paul & Hirte, Craig & Rogers, Nancy & Wilson, Ros, 2010. "The over-representation of young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in the South Australian child system: A longitudinal analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1418-1425, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bilson, Andy & Bywaters, Paul, 2020. "Born into care: Evidence of a failed state," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Simon Haworth & Andy Bilson & Taliah Drayak & Tammy Mayes & Yuval Saar-Heiman, 2022. "Parental Partnership, Advocacy and Engagement: The Way Forward," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, August.

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