Latest research shows the number of children in care in England continues to rise, a pattern that is also seen in other parts of the world. This is not a new development, the safety and wellbeing of children with birth parents who are unable to provide adequate care, has been an issue provoking much discussion and debate for many years. Legislation provides an overarching framework in which professionals deliver their support to children and families. The child’s ‘best interests’ should always be at the forefront of these decisions. Social workers must decide what is ‘good enough’ when making choices about children who are at risk of being removed from their birth homes. Children must have their basic needs of food and shelter met but their more emotional needs like affection, respect and esteem cannot be ignored. Written from an international perspective, this paper outlines the place of child removal in the child protection system. Permanence and stability, and the importance of children feeling ‘a sense of belonging’ when they are removed from birth homes is examined first. Attachment bonds are also explored due to their significance in the context of permanency. The consequences of children’s exposure to trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are investigated alongside the relevance of a trauma-informed approach. As children removed from birth homes can experience breakdowns and losses (with some experiencing a series of these), the impact of these experiences is also summarised. The focus of this paper is to examine the strengths and weaknesses of child removal and its implications for social work practice.
Keywords: child removal, adoption, fostering, permanence, stability, trauma, ACEs, breakdowns, losses, intervention