Sibling placement in State care in England: an examination of the decision-making process and the views of children

在英国，任何时候都有超过80,000名儿童和青年在国家托儿所(教育部，2020年)，主要是由于遭受虐待或忽视、家庭功能障碍、家庭处于严重困境或缺勤(教育部，2021年)。在许多情况下，需要照顾的不只是一个孩子，而是一群兄弟姐妹。法律规定，地方当局必须确保将受照料的兄弟姐妹安置在一起，除非这不符合儿童的最佳利益或不可行(《儿童法》，1989)。各种国际研究表明，将兄弟姐妹安置在一起对安置稳定性和儿童的结果，如永久性、儿童的心理健康和福祉具有积极影响(Hegar，2005；Jones，2016；Meakings，Sebba&Luke，2017；华盛顿，2007)。然而，目前几乎没有关于兄弟姐妹分离程度的官方数据。最近的一项调查发现，在94%有兄弟姐妹的托儿所儿童中，只有35%与(至少其中一个)兄弟姐妹住在一起(Wijedasa，Yoon，&Schmitts，2021)。以前的一些国际研究已经确定了使将兄弟姐妹安置在一起变得复杂的因素，例如兄弟姐妹之间的年龄差距、他们进入护理中心的时间或安置的可用性(Drapeau等人，2000年；Hegar，2005年；ShLonsky等人，2003年；Wulczyn&Zimmerman，2005年)。然而，在英格兰，很少有实证研究考察决策过程和影响兄弟姐妹安置的因素，尽管这被认为是该领域的巨大挑战之一(2020年儿童社会照料的独立审查)本研究将重点关注兄弟姐妹安置在照料中的决策过程。目的和研究问题本研究的目的是了解将兄弟姐妹一起安置在照料中的决策过程以及障碍和促进者。本研究旨在回答以下研究问题：1.将兄弟姐妹安置在一起的促进者和障碍是什么？2.从儿童的角度来看，将兄弟姐妹安置在一起可以提供哪些替代解决方案？方法论方法本研究提出了一种解释性的、顺序的、混合的方法设计来解决研究问题。首先，在纵向回顾设计的基础上进行定量的病例档案分析。这将提供将兄弟姐妹安置在一起的促进者和障碍的详细视图。将使用案例文件和案例文件，如护理计划和儿童护理后审查，这是关于兄弟姐妹安置在护理中心的决策的正式记录。其次，将对受照料的儿童进行访谈，以提供更深入的定性分析，以了解儿童如何看待兄弟姐妹安置，以及哪些替代解决方案可以成为兄弟姐妹安置决定的一部分。这项研究旨在与英格兰西南部的两个地方当局合作。

At any one time more than 80,000 children and young people in England are in State care (Department for Education, 2020), mainly due to experiences of abuse or neglect, family dysfunction, the family being in acute distress or absent parenting (Ofsted, 2021). In many instances it is not just one child, but a group of siblings that is in need of a care placement. The law states that local authorities must ensure that siblings in care are placed together unless this is not in the best interest of a child or practicable ("Children Act," 1989). Various international studies have shown the positive effects of placing siblings together on placement stability and outcomes for children such as permanency, children's mental health and well-being (Hegar, 2005; Jones, 2016; Meakings, Sebba, & Luke, 2017; Washington, 2007). However, there is currently little official data about the extent of sibling separation. A recent survey found that of the 94% of children in care who had a sibling, only 35% lived with (at least one of) them (Wijedasa, Yoon, & Schmits, 2021). Some previous international research has identified factors that complicate placing siblings together such as the age-gap between siblings, their time of entering care or the placement availability (Drapeau et al., 2000; Hegar, 2005; Shlonsky, et al., 2003; Wulczyn & Zimmerman, 2005). However, in England, very few empirical studies have examined the decision-making process and the factors influencing sibling placement in care, even though it is recognised as one of the great challenges in the field (The independent review of children's social care, 2020) This study will focus on the decision-making process on sibling placement in care.Aim and research questionsThe aim of this research is to understand the decision-making process and the barriers and facilitatorsof placing siblings together in care. The study aims to answer the following research questions:1. What are the facilitators and barriers to placing siblings together in a care placement?2. What alternate solutions to placing siblings together can be provided based on children's perspectives?Methodological approachThis study proposes an explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods design to address the research questions. First a quantitative case file analysis, based on a retrospective longitudinal design, will be conducted. This will provide a detailed view of facilitators and barriers to placing siblings together. Case files and case documentation such as care plans and child looked after reviews will be used, which are the formal records of decision-making about sibling placement in care. Secondly, interviews with children in care will be conducted, to provide a more in-depth qualitative analyses of how children view siblings placement and what alternate solutions could become part of the sibling placement decision. The study aims to work with two local authorities in the South-West of England.