Changes in the nature and sequence of placements experienced by children in care, 1980–2010

Abstract

This article compares the nature and sequence of placements experienced by children entering care in England (and in one case Wales) in 1980 and in 2010. The two samples comprise sequential admissions from a selected date. In each case, results are presented for those who left care early (within six months) and those who were still there 12 months after entry. It was found that residential care was widely used in 1980, both as an initial placement and following foster care disruption, but by 2010 its use had virtually disappeared. The demise of observation and assessment centres is especially significant for reflecting practice changes with regard to the assessment of children’s needs. The results for the amount of children’s movement between placements while in care were varied, showing a slight increase for the short-stay group and only a modest reduction for those who stayed longer. The implications of the findings for policy and practice are discussed.