Recent projects: National Assembly for Wales (2003-2004)
Review of the Purpose, Development and Management of Fostering services for Children in Wales;
Review of the Purpose and Future Shape of Residential Care Services for Children in Wales
This completed project was to inform the development of a framework for fostering and residential services for children and young people.
The report is available from the National Children's Bureau.
Summary of project
The task
The Welsh Assembly Government has consulted on a draft Strategic Framework for Improving Placement Choice and Stability, which aims:
- to help social services authorities and their partner agencies fulfil their responsibilities and achieve the Children First objectives to increase placement choice and improve stability for looked after children; and
- to assist the development of local placement strategies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all looked after children.
The development of the framework was supported by a multi-agency task-group and a number of specific sub-groups that included representation from the statutory and independent sector.
The draft framework includes the following action point:
The Welsh Assembly Government will commission:
- a review of the purpose, effectiveness, development and management of foster care services in Wales; and
- a review to consider the purpose and future shape of residential care services for children in Wales with the aim of establishing a cogent theoretical basis and strategic direction for the development of an effective, quality service
A multi-agency implementation group is supporting the work on all the framework's action points. A reference group of practitioners and managers drawn from the range of commissioners and providers across the sector will assist by focusing and informing the review of by focusing and informing the review of a) foster care services and b) children's residential care.
Methodology
1. To establish the presence of the project through articles in interest group newsletters, web sites, local media and journals
The purpose of this is to elicit experiences from interested individuals. A brief document would be prepared which would ask for comment on set topics in writing or on the web site. This has been an immensely successful part of Roger Clough's Housing Decisions in Old Age Project.
2. A review of the current state of knowledge in foster and residential services to highlight:
- factors conducive to successful outcomes in terms of systems and practice;
- factors that militate against successful outcomes in terms of systems and practice;
- clarifying the task of different types of fostering and reconciling differing expectations;
- specifying the working methods appropriate to each task;
- identifying the skills and knowledge base required in different types of fostering, including external support and management;
- highlighting the implications of the above for training and development;
- identifying the appropriate support systems for foster parents;
- identifying the appropriate structures for management of foster placements;
- locating all the above within a coherent theoretical framework;
- clarifying the task of each type of residential unit and reconciling differing expectations;
- specifying the working methods appropriate to each task;
- identifying the knowledge and skills base required at each level in the residential units, including unit management;
- highlighting the implications of the above for staff training and development;
- identifying the appropriate support systems for staff at all levels, both for individuals and for groups;
- identifying the appropriate structures of both internal and external management of residential units;
- locating all the above within a coherent theoretical framework;
- related work force factors and policies;
- relevant strategies of the National Assembly for Wales (social care; health; education; human resources);
- relevant information from other countries, both on theoretical models but also on support systems, such as the development of the Residential Child Care Institute in Scotland as a staffing and training resource.
3. A re-examination of results of three recent surveys of looked after children in two Welsh authorities, a city and a county.
(Data held by Dartington Social Research Unit). These surveys look at 90-100 children, a random snapshot of children looked after for more than three months. The data on need, background, services received, and placements is extensive. This would be re-analysed in the light of the questions raised in the tender document.
4. Production of synopsis of information from review: this would be circulated to selected individuals for written comment and discussion at meetings.
Discussion groups would be created from professionals in social services, health and education, Social Services Inspectorate Wales (SSIW), children and young people, parents and siblings. They would be asked whether the synopsis rings true and the factors that get in the way of good practice.
Roger Bullock - former Professor, Bristol University, working at Dartington Social Research Unit.
Roger Clough - former Professor, Lancaster University: Co-director of the project; now working independently as Eskrigge Social Research.
Matthew Colton - Professor, Swansea University: Co-director of the project.
Sue Roberts - Research Associate, Swansea University.
Adrian Ward - Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia.
Two reports were produced for the National Assembly for Wales:
Research team: Roger Clough & Matthew Colton Co-Directors
Project findings