When social services are involved in your life.

We recommend that you do as many courses as possible.

When social services first get involved in your life it can be daunting. With funding to services being cut, many support services are no longer available and the only invovement currently available to many families is child protection. As soon as you find yourselves with services involving themselves in your life.

1. Get educated.

2. get help and support.

3. we are here to help, we are a group of parents that have been where you are, we understand that social services can become involved for obscure reasons. A bitter ex causing problems in your life? A nosy neighbour reporting you because they have nothing better to do? or you might have asked for help with children with special needs? whatever the reason we have had experience in this and how it can snowball from a non-issue to one where you are threatened with child removal. We do not judge you for the situation you are in but instead help look for alternative solutions.

If you and your ex are finding it hard to compromise

for the children’s sake.

Use a co-parenting app. We recommend App close.

Download www.apPclose.com here and suggest to the other party to do the same.

This app helps to keep everything in one place and also provides a mutual calendar to put dates of contact etc.

The messenger service can be used in court as evidence as it cannot be altered or deleted.

It also prints off in chronological order dated and time stamped for ease of reference, especially if your case ends up back in court.

Click the above link to Lorna Suttons page. Here you will find courses for every situation Are you trying to show significant changes in your circumstances? Have you got social services involvement or had your children removed? we can help Get in touch!

Join our facebook group for ADVICE- PARENTS DEALING WITH SOCIAL SERVICES CAFCASS & FAMILY COURT FACEBOOK

This advice group is about empowering people and teaching them that in fact, it’s normal that these issues happen and they are not alone. A child gets taken into care every 5 minutes in the UK. The group creator Tanya Braidy

ADVICE FROM PARENTS FOR PARENTS JOIN HERE

GET EDUCATED. FIND RECOMMENDED COURSES.

The one below is recognised by the courts and by social services. You can use the codes mentioned below to get this for free. The cost is usually nearly £40

1. To do this for free first go to this link. Along the top click on courses for parents and choose the appropriate course.

2. Sign up for the course/s you wish to do. It will say Access code. Enter the word BEAR.

3. It will then say register email and password. Enter your own email address and password here.

4. You will be sent an email. Go to your email and sign in with your details. It will say welcome back.

5. Here it asks for you to re-enter the access code, again enter the word BEAR

6. On the next page, it will say Solihull course £0

7. Fill in your name - Mail of email and how old you are, how old your children are and who referred you. Put social worker.

8. Then it asks you to put in your postcode DO NOT USE YOUR OWN POSTCODE BUT INSTEAD PUT IN THE POSTCODE CV32 5HZ

9. Scroll to the right and it will show you a box that says your Solihull course is free. Click on the link for courses and complete the course

10. When you sign in ALWAYS use the code BEAR and the postcode CV32 5HZ

11. You can go back anytime for as many times as you like and you will get your certificate delivered to your email address upon completion of the course.

3. Escape. Family court support.

We are aware of how in the family court the victim can very quickly become seen as the target of child protection CAFCASS and thus the court Judges focus of blame. We are here to help you on this Facebook page ( link above ) We also have a chat room at the bottom of this page to interact with parents where we can offer advice on what steps to take when this happens to you. Our advice is based upon experience and whilst we do have parents amongst us who have qualifications in law and child psychology, we find that advice based upon experience is far more valuable than any other. You are welcome to join this Facebook page but please do answer the questions first before being accepted.. We are careful who we allow into our group and strive to make this as safe for parents as possible to share their stories that we know for a fact is causing trauma in our children and creating a damaged next generation leaving the care system angry and resentful.

The freedom Programme course.

There’s one for men and one for women.

This course is not free. You can do this for £12 If you are unable to pay there is a message from the founders below.

ONLINE COURSE

Please note: We do not write reports or provide certificates of completion. If you need to evidence change you can save and print off each part of the course as you go.

If you are a new customer, click here to purchase the course for £12

If you have already purchased the course

Log in here to the Online Course for Women

Log in here to the Online Course for Men

All courses Both free and paid for will be made available on the escape page. HERE

Escape - Evidence Significant Change And Parenting Education The group

4. Changes power in numbers parents unite.

This is a facebook group where you may share links to demonstrations, meetings and gatherings.

WARNING This group Changes (power in numbers parents unite) is a PUBLIC group ... Everyone can see what you post. If you need to discuss cases please join our sister groups. This group is specifically for gathering numbers of you for marches and advertising and charity purposes. It is specifically for those of you who are disgusted at what is happening in family courts and what social services are doing to families and children if this is you, please join us now...

We run other facebook groups where more sensitive cases can be discussed. We have further groups that are at different levels of secrecy and support. we will channel you to the correct group, just let us know what you need and how we can help you. 

If we don't come together now and put an end to this madness then we are not doing our duty as parents. This is about ALL OUR CHILDREN! they are using our fears and emotions by threatening us with not being able to see our children if we do not conform. That's how this system is taking control of lives and our children they can do anything they like this way because we are not standing in numbers against them. "As Jeremy Corbyn said, it is not me they fear it is all of you." 
unless parents rise up this will end up with all children being brought up by the state. No child is safe. We want to try and get groups to join together across the net the stronger we join hands the more noise we can make. The below link is our closed group where parents join collectively but in a safer environment where you can post links to articles etc. 

A new helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.

A NATIONAL HELPLINE for men and boys who are victims of domestic abuse has been launched today by the Waterford group Men’s Development Network.

 The new advice line can be accessed on 1800 816 588 at the following times:

• Monday: 10am-6pm

• Tuesday: 12pm-8pm

• Wednesday: 10am-6pm

• Thursday: 12pm-8pm

• Friday: 2pm-6pm

Counsellors will man the phones and provide an outlet for men, who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse in their relationships,

to speak confidentially with professionals who are trained to advise on domestic crime.

Some common indicators of male domestic abuse include; verbal abuse and belittling, possessiveness and jealousy, ongoing accusations of being unfaithful, trying to control where you go and who you see, trying to control how you spend money or deliberate default on joint financial obligations, making false allegations about you to your friends, or threatening to leave you and preventing you from seeing your children.

The most recent research from the National Crime Council details that up to 88,000 men across Ireland have been severely abused by a partner at some point in their lives. The advice line’s initial roll-out is working toward facilitating up to 5,000 calls a year.

Sean Cooke, CEO of the Men’s Development Network said that although more women are affected by domestic abuse than men, only 5% of men report incidents to the Gardaí, indicating that the majority of men suffer alone.

“…Our research shows that most men suffer their abuse in silence because they are ashamed and believe it makes them less of a man.

The stereotype that exists around being a man in Ireland suggests that a man should be physically and emotionally strong, successful, confident and the list goes on.

This creates a barrier that can be impossible to break through and prevents men accessing support when they need it the most.

Cooke said that research has indicated that talking to a trained listener can help a caller make better sense of what’s happening and create a plan to deal with it.

4. There will be many meetings when social services get involved in you and your children's lives.

Here you will find every course that is important for your case, to prove significant change to the court. By law, if you can prove change they must re-consider their position in removing your children.

ESCAPE - EVIDENCE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND PARENTING EDUCATION

POWER IN NUMBERS WHERE PARENTS UNITE

Power in numbers is an open group that parents can use to share information on gatherings, protests and anything else that you can share with the world about your story. sensitive information on this page as it will be removed.

CHANGES- POWER IN NUMBERS WHERE PARENTS UNITE OPEN GROUP

What are social services?

Social services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and can provide a wide range of services to children and their parents, usually within the own home environment and co-ordinated by a social worker. Families often feel anxious at the prospect of social services’ involvement because of experiences they may have heard from others, or just because they are frightened that social workers will remove their children from the family home.  

These fears are natural but a child will only be removed if there is very clear evidence that they are at risk of significant harm, and there is a court order in place too. If they consider that your child is in immediate danger, the police can take a child into ‘police protection’, but they have to return your child to your care within the next 48 hours unless the court makes an Emergency Protection Order (EPO). 

There are different departments in social services to support varying needs. There is an adult social services department, which provides services to the elderly and working age adults who have learning difficulties, physical or mental health problems, or addictions.  If a child is looking after a parent with a disability, they might be referred to as a ‘young carer’ and there may be special provisions in place to help if this is the situation. Often, social care services for adults who have a mental illness or an addiction are provided by a mental health trust. 

It is common for these different departments to work together if a family or individual needs this. The aim is to coordinate their services in the interests of the family as a whole.  If there are concerns that a child may be suffering, or is at risk of harm, the work with the family will be led by a social worker from the children’s services department (sometimes referred to as Children’s Social Care).

Why social services may become involved

• A parent or other adult family member or an older child may request family support services from social services at times of stress or for help regarding a particular child or family problem. A professional who knows the family such as a teacher, family centre worker or GP can make this request on their behalf.  

• Depending on your local authority, either a neighbourhood-based social worker or a multi-agency assessment team member (sometimes referred to as a MASH team) will offer a further assessment, immediate assistance or an assessment team signpost to appropriate community-based support and services.          

• Children’s and adults’ social care services can help parents and relatives who are disabled or who are caring for disabled children, including providing ‘short break’ services (inside or outside of the home).

• There might be child protection issues for the child(ren), including cases where violence between adults could result in harm to the children.

• The parent may request that a child be temporarily placed in foster care or residential care as an emergency or planned short term measure to help with their child's challenging behaviour, or to provide a planned break or a series of short breaks at a time of particular stress.

• Where children are taken into care following emergency intervention by the police or a court order.

• Where a child is placed for adoption, occasionally at the request of the parent but more often following a court order when the child is already in care.

Referral to social services

Referrals to social services can happen in a number of ways. You can request help yourself by calling your local social services - you can find your local social services here. Referrals can be made by other professionals who are working with your family or children, including schools, GPs, health visitors, and more. If there are concerns that a child is being abused or neglected, professionals, family members or anyone else who is concerned can approach social services, the police or contact the NSPCC directly for advice. 

If adult or children’s social services are involved in your family and you are unsure what to expect, these guidelines will offer some useful advice. Your local social services departments will have a number of leaflets and written factsheets that can help you understand the work they do and their procedures.  

They will have a website to give you more information about the sorts of difficulties they can help with and the services they provide.  If you do require the leaflets and factsheets in other languages or braille, please do ask your local social services department about this. You can also get independent advice, leaflets and support from Family Rights Group or if you are a concerned relative, the Grandparents’ Association. 

If the social services department of your local authority (LA) consider you or your child are in need of additional help or your child may have been abused or neglected, they have a duty to talk with you and professionals and sometimes close relatives who know your child well, and to assess what actions should be taken to improve things for the family and protect your child from harm.  . There are many ways in which social services and their partner agencies can help you and your children so it is important to try and work alongside them and cooperate as best you can. 

If they have been in touch to let you know that they are conducting a ‘safeguarding’ or a ‘child protection’ inquiry it is important not to panic. It is natural to feel anxious and frightened in this situation but you should be informed by social services what the process involves and be given leaflets about what you can do. Unless there are particular circumstances preventing them, they may call or write to you and let you know they are conducting an of your child’s needs and any risks to their health or development. They should give you an idea of how long this assessment is likely to take, and if they don’t, make sure you ask them.  In most cases these assessments result in them providing support and other services, with your agreement, in the family home.

ONCE THE REFERRAL HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY CHILDREN?S SOCIAL CARE, THE LEAD PRACTITIONER ROLE FALLS TO A SOCIAL WORKER.

The social worker should clarify with the referrer, when known, the nature of the concerns and how and why they have arisen.

71. Within one working day of a referral being received, a local authority social worker should acknowledge receipt to the referrer and make a decision about next steps and the type of response required. This will include determining whether: The child requires immediate protection and urgent action is required; The child is in need and should be assessed under section 17 of the Children Act 1989; There is reasonable cause to suspect that the child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, and whether enquires must be made and the child assessed under section 47 of the Children Act 1989; Any services are required by the child and family and what type of services; Further specialist assessments are required to help the local authority to decide what further action to take; To see the child as soon as possible if the decision is taken that the referral requires further assessment.

72. Where requested to do so by local authority children?s social care, practitioners from other parts of the local authority such as housing and those in health organisations have a duty to co-operate under section 27 of the Children Act 1989 by assisting the local authority in carrying out its children?s social care functions.

73. The child and family must be informed of the action to be taken, unless a decision is taken on the basis that this may jeopardise a police investigation or place the child at risk of significant harm.

74. For children who are in need of immediate protection, action must be taken by the social worker, or the police or the NSPCC[32] if removal is required, as soon as possible after the referral has been made to local authority children?s social care (Sections 44 and 46 of the Children Act 1989). 75. The maximum timeframe for the assessment to conclude, such that it is possible to reach a decision on next steps, should be no longer than 45 working days from the point of referral. If, in discussion with a child and their family and other practitioners, an assessment exceeds 45 working days, the social worker should record the reasons for exceeding the time limit.

76. Whatever the timescale for assessment, where particular needs are identified at any stage of the assessment, social workers should not wait until the assessment reaches a conclusion before commissioning services to support the child and their family. In some cases, the needs of the child will mean that a quick assessment will be required.

77. It is the responsibility of the social worker to make clear to children and families how the assessment will be carried out and when they can expect a decision on next steps. Local authorities should determine their local assessment processes through a local protocol.

Section 46 Enquiries

If there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer Significant Harm, a Section 46 Enquiry and Core Assessment are initiated.

This normally occurs after an Initial Assessment and a Strategy Discussion.

Section 46 Enquiries are usually conducted by a social worker, jointly with the Police, and must be completed within 15 days of a Strategy Discussion.

Where concerns are substantiated and the child is judged to be at continued risk of Significant Harm, a Child Protection Conference should be convened.

What is a social services Section 47 enquiry?

If there are concerns about the safety or welfare of a child or children, they may decide that a child protection investigation is needed and they will conduct what is called a Section 47 enquiry. This means they will carry out a full investigation because there is reasonable cause to believe that a child or children living in that home has been abused or neglected or is likely to be abused or neglected in the future unless steps are taken to safeguard the child’s welfare. (The legal term they will use is ‘significant harm’). 

If you have heard that they are going to carry out a Section 47 enquiry, then again, please do not panic. This is to determine the child’s needs are being met. They will also use this enquiry to decide whether further action may be needed to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare. Click here to know more

About the child protection conference

The child protection conference is a meeting to help everyone involved in this investigation to assess all the information and plan how to safeguard the child and promote his or her welfare.  In most cases, parents and carers are encouraged to attend and entitled to take someone for support or have a legal representative to accompany them too.  

Social workers and other professionals who know the child well will give a report at the conference, and they should show you their report beforehand and check that it is accurate.  If you disagree, the meeting chairperson should make sure you have a chance to put your point of view. At this meeting, it will be decided whether or not the child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm and whether there should be a formal child protection plan (CP Plan) put in place.  If it is the case that a formal child protection plan is necessary. Here will be a record of the meeting and a detailed statement of the protection services to be provided will be given to the parents and the professionals. If it is decided that a formal protection plan is not necessary, but there are concerns about a child’s wellbeing, there may be agreement between the parents, older children and professionals that a ‘family support plan’ (sometimes called a ‘child in need’ plan should be in place to provide the support and services needed.  

It is natural to worry that your children may be taken into care when there is a Child Protection Conference, but the aim of this meeting is to see how everyone can work together to address the concerns raised. Only a court can order that a child should no longer live with his or her parents and this would only be in very harmful situations. If the members of the conference consider that a court order may be needed to protect your child the local authority will start a ‘pre-proceedings’ process and at that point you have a right to consult a solicitor, and you do not have to pay for this service.  It is really important that you take legal advice if this happens.    

Parents and children at the child protection conference 

As a parent, you should be consulted at all stages of the process and kept informed about the decision to hold a child protection conference. Parents will usually be encouraged to attend a child protection conference. If there has been domestic abuse within the family home, parents may be invited to attend separately. Parents can bring a friend or supporter to a child protection conference although they can’t usually speak on your behalf. However if you're a parent with a disability, the local authority has an obligation to make sure you can fully participate. The professionals at the meeting have also got to take into account race, religion and language barriers and take steps to ensure the parent is able to be involved whether it be access to an interpreter or other support.

There are some cases where the chair may say a parent cannot attend, this is in cases such as:

• If there is a suspicion that you have seriously injured or assaulted your child and criminal proceedings are being considered

• You have a history of violence or could be violent to someone at the meeting or after

• Parent has severe mental health issues

• If you arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs

If you have been told not to come to a meeting and you feel it is without merit, you can speak to your legal representative and hopefully address this in writing. You could also ask that your views are expressed at the conference if you are not able to attend in person. You do have the right to make a formal complaint or seek judicial review of the decision to exclude you. However, it is important to seek legal advice about this.

At times, children are invited to come to the meeting but this depends on their level of understanding, their emotional health and their age. Social workers will only allow this to happen if they feel it is beneficial to the child or they have expressed a wish to attend. They will be given support before the meeting so they know what to expect. They may bring an advocate or supporter with them. If they do not attend, their views should still be expressed within the meeting. 

Social Services Child Protection Plan

If a formal Child Protection Plan is made, regular meetings called Core Groups will be held, and this is often the case if there is a family support plan.  The aim of this is for a small group of people including parents and children, if appropriate, to go through the plan thoroughly and decide how everyone involved can work together. This group will meet regularly to decide if the details of the plan need to change. The Child Protection Plan is a written record for parents, carers and professionals.  It will set out the following:

• What type/s of abuse or neglect have occurred or are thought likely to occur if the protection plan is not successful

• Whether the local authority should consider making a court application for a care or supervision order and call a ‘pre-proceedings meeting@ to which parents and there solicitor will be invited

• Who is the key worker for the child/parent and sometimes there will be a different key worker for the parents

• Who are the members of the Core Group

• What work needs to be done by the parents and professionals to reduce the concern and safeguard the child

• What needs does the child have and how will they be met

• What are the parents’ needs and what support and services are to be made available to them

• When the work should happen and the date that the plan will be reviewed to see if it is still necessary, or there can be a less formal family support plan to provide the help needed  instead

• Who is responsible for each part of the plan

A record of the plan will be kept by the agencies who were invited to the meeting and the parents and older children. (You may have heard the term ‘Child Protection Register’ but this no longer exists.  It has been replaced by the recording of plans in order to emphasise that the process is about providing services to protect the child.) The public cannot access information about whether there is a formal protection plan for a particular child and only the professionals  involved with the child, or who may need to know if a child they are working with is the subject of a protection plan,  have access to this information.  It is worth asking the key worker to tell you who does know about it.  

It is difficult to say exactly how long a formal protection plan will be needed.  This is decided at child protection review meetings (held approximately every six months, but it could be earlier) which parents and older children usually attend to give their views about whether the plan is helping or needs to be changed. This is something that the key worker can talk to you about. 

If you are concerned that a child may be abused or seriously neglected then you can contact your local Children’s Services Department, the NSPCC, the police, or a health professional or teacher can make a referral to social services on your behalf. If social services are involved with your family and you would like further support and independent advice for this, please do get in touch with us directly by calling this helpline on 0808 800 2222. 

Lifelong Links.

However, none of this has proved “insurmountable”. Co-ordinators in Devon report bringing carers and wider family together has helped children feel more settled and “increased their sense of belonging in their foster family”. It has also provided extra support for foster carers who now have the backing of biological families. “There is more communication and things are more joined up in general,” says Marks. Key issues include an understandable reticence on the part of some social workers, managers, carers and parents worried about the emotional impact and potential risk of destabilising placements. What happens if no one comes forward? How do you prepare already vulnerable young people to deal with potential disappointment? The fact is many young people are already searching for relatives in ways that may be unsafe or make it more likely for them to experience rejection, says Ashley. She gives the example of one young offender taking part in the scheme who had previously turned up on the doorstep of a family member unannounced and proceeded to be quite aggressive. “The response was to completely push him away,” she says. Ashley suggests the desire to protect young people may even put them at more risk in the future if they emerge from care rootless and without people they can turn to for help. Another theme that has emerged is a tendency to assume “we’re a good authority so we do this anyway”, she says. However, all pilot sites are reporting finding family members and other key contacts that had not previously been known about or even considered as important in a young person’s life. “We have been surprised at just how many fathers as well as wider paternal relatives have been found and connected through this process,” says Ashley. “We knew about fathers too often being pushed out from decision making but were surprised at how many children had absolutely no connection with their father for a very long time and how many fathers didn’t even know their children were in care.” Forging positive relationships Some did not even know whether they were the father or not.

The Lifelong’s Links process has led to several DNA tests being done, which has lifted a huge burden of uncertainty for children and dads alike and led to positive relationships being forged. Ashley recounts the story of one young man in Scotland who was keen to know his father. All he had was a photo of his mum and dad’s wedding with dad’s face cut out. “So this child was holding on to this photo without a face,” says Ashley. “In that case – although it wasn’t the primary aim at all – it looks like the child will end up moving in with the father.” In cases where it is harder to trace people or get them involved, there is evidence the process itself can help young people make sense of their family history and muddled childhood memories. Far from destabilising placements, it appears to help even those with the most complex needs to settle down. Where there are concerns – especially if a young person is involved with the child and adolescent mental health services – then these need to be worked through, explains Margot Thomson, team leader for family group decision-making in the northeast of Glasgow. Her team of four Lifelong Links trained coordinators hope to work with 25 children for each year of the pilot. “We would not want to destabilise a placement and recalling family members or feeling bereft of family can upset children,” she says. “But it’s not the case that we wouldn’t go ahead – we would look at how to support that child and foster carer.” Ensuring robust support for young people going through the process and that they are properly prepared is key. This includes preparing young people for the fact the people they want to see may not be in a position to come forward. “It is about helping the young person understand it not about them per se but maybe about the other person’s own personal circumstances,” says Hertfordshire’s Ben Carr. At the same time, it is important not to give up too easily when it comes to tracking people

Lifelong Links for families with disabled children in care Lifelong Family Links works in partnership with children, young people and adults with a disability, their carers, relatives and community-based service providers to deliver flexible services within the community designed to improve the lives of disabled people. We were established in 1982. Our key aim is to ensure young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to live, learn and
work within their local community, achieve sustained progression, resulting in better life outcomes disabled people achieve their full potential, to enjoy a rich and full individual and family life, and one in which they engage with, and contribute, to the local community. This includes accessing voluntary and paid employment.

down and getting them involved, says Devon’s, Debbie Marks. “Persistence is one of the things we have learned from the other sites and our own experience,” she says. “It is about really knowing – not just thinking you know – whether one of the identified links is interested or not. “We tend to think ‘We have tried this, tried that and haven’t had a response so they’re not interested’ but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes families don’t know how to respond.” When children enter care ties with their parents may be severed and often that means relationships with wider family are severed too. So going back to people some time down the line to see if they have anything to offer the child “is a big ask in some respects”, points out Glasgow’s Margot Thomson. “It is about opening up that dialogue with people but certainly not putting pressure on anybody,” she adds. Extended family contact Often extended family members believe they are not allowed to have contact. Thomson gives the example of one boy who had multiple placements before ending up in a residential school. Through Lifelong Links, two of his sisters were located with one caring for an older brother with learning needs. Despite the fact they had been through the care system themselves and stayed in touch with each other they didn’t think they would be allowed to see their brother but “absolutely jumped at the chance” when approached. Eight months down the line and they are now regularly meeting up and the hope is the boy, who is nearly 16, may now have other options when he leaves care.

Challenges for those involved in the pilot include looking at ways to ensure no child is excluded from taking part, including those with severe disabilities who may be non-verbal and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Ashley admits the high turnover in social work departments has also proved problematic and has had an impact on referrals. Key lessons learned include the importance of consent –

including consent from parents who may not be having contact with their children – and the need to consult, involve and support foster carers, who in turn have a key role in supporting young people.

It is also important independent reviewing officers are on board as they oversee children’s care plans and can ensure the Lifelong Links element is incorporated. Anecdotal evidence and case studies from pilot authorities suggest the process has the potential to transform young lives. The project is also having a wider impact. Prompted by Lifelong Links, Glasgow now has an administrator in place who undertakes extended family searches for children in the trial but also for those who are the subject of standard child welfare family group conferences, including those on the edge of care, and to inform life story work for other children in care. So far searches for 199 children have resulted in an additional 3,962 family members being found – alongside the 1,257 already known about. As part of the project, the FRG worked with the Rees Centre in Oxford to develop a way of measuring key relationships in young people’s lives after discovering there wasn’t really a suitable evaluation tool already out there. It is clear the Social Connections tool – which prompts questions about who young people have to turn to, who looks out for them and takes pride in their achievements – may prove important in social work practice in general, says Ashley. The project has also had an influence on foster carer recruitment in some councils who are now placing more emphasis on finding people who understand they have a key role in helping young people stay connected with wider family networks and don’t feel threatened by that. Interim findings from the pilot in England are due to be published in March 2019 with a final evaluation report in March 2020. Interim findings from Scotland are due in autumn 2019 with a final report in summer 2020. Perhaps in the future, the Lifelong Links process will be something offered to all children when it becomes clear they need a long-term care placement, suggests Hertfordshire’s, Katie Jolly. “In an ideal world this would be work done with them then and not something separate that happens afterwards,” she concludes