Referrals of children in need of protection to live with relatives abroad in EU countries

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This mixed-methods project examines challenges faced by family justice practitioners in England when placing children at risk across European (EU) borders. In England, when children require out of home care, local authorities must first consider placement with family. However, the search for and assessment of relatives is far more challenging when children's kin live abroad, and there are knowledge gaps regarding the added challenges of the UK's exit from the EU (BREXIT). Due to global migration, public services deal with an increasingly diverse population of children in need. Although migration can improve family life, it can also create hardships that render children at risk (Ackers and Stalford 2004; Northcott and Jeffries 2012; Lamont and Fenton-Glynn 2016). To date, there has been insufficient research on how practitioners navigate complex international statutory frameworks to ensure best interest decisions for children whose family resources span European borders. Little is known about this vulnerable population of children and how the challenges of cross border placements are complicated by BREXIT. Systematic research is required to inform best practice.Research questions:What can official datasets and the CFAB database tell us about the numbers, socio demographic profiles and outcomes for children placed by English local authorities abroad in Europe between 2015 and 2021? What are limitations of the data and what recommendations can be made to improve it? How can the new descriptive knowledge this project gained about this child population inform judicial decision-making?What challenges do practitioners and the Judiciary in England describe when making placement decisions about children with extended families in Europe? How are challenges compounded/ameliorated given legislative changes due to BREXIT?How can policy and practice be improved to ensure the best possible outcomes for children placed internationally?