Learning from Research: Special guardianship families experiences and support needs
Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) are increasingly granted as a route for children to leave care. Initial research conducted by Professor Judith Harwin and John Simmonds OBE, suggests that children with SGOs generally fare well. However, deeper understanding of pre-SGO pathways, the characteristics of children and their special guardians, as well as the support needs of children with an SGO is needed to better inform policy and practice.
In this session, we will be looking at the findings from the recent Nuffield foundation study on Special Guardianship families’ experiences and support needs. The project uses population-level Welsh children’s social care, health and education data to explore the characteristics of children with SGOs and how they differ from looked after children without an SGO. The research also assessed both children and carers for social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- Understand the specific barriers and support needs for children and families with SGOs.
- Learn from a leading expert in the field about best practice and support you can give to children and families with SGOs.
- Insights on the latest research into the growth of SGOs as a route for children to leave care.
PRESENTERS
Lorna Stabler, Research Fellow, CASCADE
Lorna Stabler is a Research Fellow within CASCADE. She is the Principal Investigator for a Nuffield Foundation–funded study focused on Special Guardianship Orders in Wales. Lorna began her work with CASCADE on a programme of research for the What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care. She previously worked at the Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care as an embedded researcher within an inner London local authority. She is particularly motivated by understanding what can improve outcomes for families and young people involved in children’s social care, and how social work practice connects to wider family change.
Dr Nell Warner, Research Associate, CASCADE
Dr Warner's early career was teaching secondary school science in both Cardiff and Uganda. Her PhD focused on home visiting support provided to families with young children by Home-Start UK. She ahs been working at CASCADE since May 2018, initially contributing to a wide range of projects being carried out for What Works for Children's Social care.. She was the Principle Investigator of a two year, Health and care Research Wales funded project looking at the relationship between household risk factors and the later entry of children into local authority care.
PROGRAMME
Background and context
Brief overview of study methods
What the data collected can be used for and what we can learn from it
Focus from research for practice
The children's journey pre SGO
The households of children with SGO and implications for support planning
Disparities in practice
Social, emotional and cognitive skills - implications beyond children's services support
What do services need to be thinking about when designing services for children for SGO? Discussion
WHO'S IT FOR
This session will be of interest to all social workers, team managers and advanced practitioners, as well as carers or those working with children and young people.
FEES
Members: FREE (don't forget to log in to your account to receive your discount)
Non-members: £20+VAT.
CONTACT
Telephone: 02075207520 / 0310
Email: events@corambaaf.org.uk
£20.00