Experience of maltreatment and pathways to permanence for children accommodated under the age of five in Scotland

This presentation will discuss the type, severity and timing of maltreatment experienced by children, and explore how these are associated with their subsequent pathways to permanence. What are the maltreatment histories of... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation will discuss the type, severity and timing of maltreatment experienced by children, and explore how these are associated with their subsequent pathways to permanence. What are the maltreatment histories of children successfully reunified with parents, those who are adopted, and those who are placed in long-term foster care or kinship care?  What other factors, such as age on entry to care, placement history, and parental risk factors (including domestic violence, substance misuse, and mental health problems) influence pathways and outcomes for children?

Data is drawn from a longitudinal, mixed-methods study, Permanently Progressing, led by the Universities of Stirling and York.  This study aims to investigate decision-making, permanence, progress, outcomes and perceptions of belonging for children placed away from their birth parents in Scotland.  Administrative data for all children who entered out-of-home care in 2012-13 under the age of five was used to investigate children’s pathways and progress.  For a sample of these children (n=416), primary data on their characteristics and histories, experiences and outcomes was collected (3-4 years after they entered out-of-home care) through an online survey of the children’s social workers.  The social worker questionnaire included a standardised measure of the nature, severity and timing of the maltreatment the children experienced (the Modified Maltreatment Classification System, or MMCS), together with information on reasons for entry to out-of-home care and subsequent decisions concerning permanence.

Understandings of permanence must be differentiated, with a variety of possible pathways to permanence needed to respond to children’s diverse needs and circumstances.  This presentation will provide new evidence on different pathways to permanence, particularly around the maltreatment histories and other background factors of children who achieve different permanence outcomes.