Factors that influence the placement trajectories of children in out-of-home care: Perspectives of carers and children

摘要

With increasing numbers of children being placed in out-of-home care it is vital that we have a better understanding of the factors that influence the placement journey, specifically placement stability and placement movement. This convergent mixed method research investigated factors influencing placement trajectory from the perspective of children and carers in the out-of-home care system. Child-carer engagement at the levels of individual child or carer, family-care context and child protection system were found to be critical. A key outcome was the recommendation to structure out-of-home care policy and practice around the placement trajectory concept, placing relationship at the centre, and using child-focused outcomes to evaluate out of home care.