Lost and Found: Making and Remaking Working Partnerships with Parents of Children in the Care System

First published in 1999, this volume is a collection of essays focused on the theme of partnership with parents in social work practice with children and families. It covers issues relating to the quality of care and preparation for aftercare, particularly children’s identity needs and preparation for life after care which are highlighted in the Quality Protects programme. It developed from an action research project, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and conducted by the editors a Warwick University between 1993 and 1996. Through teaching activities associated with the implementation of the Children Act 1989 the editors became aware that there were many parents who had lost contact with both their child and their child’s social workers after their child had entered the care system. These were the ‘lost’ parents of the study. Partnership with parents has become an integral part of social work with children and families living together or apart. Inevitably it concerns many other people involved in the care of children and providing advice to individuals. Partnership permeates all aspects of relationships between parents, children and those providing care in place of parents. Consequently, the issues discussed in this book are of relevance to all those working directly or indirectly with children, parents and other relatives. Amongst these are social workers, family placement workers, carers and residential workers, team managers and policy makers in local authority social services departments, guardians ad litem, court welfare officers and lawyers acting for children or parents, children’s rights officers and advisers working in voluntary agencies which support families and children.