Factors associated with re-entry to out-of-home care among children in England. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mc Grath-Lone, Louise; Dearden, Lorraine; Harron, Katie; Nasim, Bilal; Gilbert, Ruth
• Is Part Of: Child abuse & neglect. Volume 63(2017)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Looked after children -- Out-of-home care -- Re-entry -- Permanence; Child abuse -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.11.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-2134

Abstract

Abstract: Exiting and re-entering out-of-home care (OHC) is considered a disruption to permanence which may have long-lasting, negative consequences for children due to a lack of stability and continuity. Each year approximately one-third of children in OHC in England exit, but information is lacking on rates of re-entries and associated factors. Using national administrative data, we calculated rates of re-entry among children exiting OHC from 2007 to 2012, identified key child and care factors associated with re-entry using Cox proportional hazards modelling, and developed a simple probability calculator to estimate which groups of children are most likely to re-enter OHC within three months. Between 2007 and 2012 re-entries to OHC in England decreased (from 23.3% to 14.4% within one year of exit, p < 0.001), possibly due to concurrent changes in the way children exited OHC. Overall, more than one-third of children exiting OHC in 2008 re-entered within five years (35.3%, N = 4076), but rates of re-entry varied by child and care characteristics including age, ethnicity, mode of exit, and placement stability. Based on these associated factors, we developed a calculator that can estimate the likelihood of rapid re-entry to OHC for a group of children and could be used by social care practitioners or service planners. Our findings provide insight into which groups of children are most likely to re-enter OHC, who may benefit from additional support or ongoing monitoring.