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![Recommended Practice for Agencies - Point 2
2. Welfare agencies need to undertake fundamentally different
roles in foster & kinship care placements
Kinship care is unique. It is not foster care. At the same time it
is more than family support ... carers will need a model of
support which recognises the child, parents and kinship carers
as part of a family system with its own strengths, networks
and needs ... there is a strong case for redefining kinship care
as a separate category [with its set of regulations and
guidance] of looked after children ... this would be a major
step forward in recognising the commitment of kinship carers
to the child they have taken into their care. (Aldgate and
McIntosh (2006: 145)
• Agencies require specific kinship care workers for this role](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/p1fp31mchugh-150520082249-lva1-app6891/85/Resolving-Tensions-between-Carers-and-Workers-in-Statutory-Kinship-Care-an-Australian-Study-11-320.jpg)
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Resolving Tensions between Carers and Workers in Statutory Kinship Care - an Australian Study
This document summarizes a study on resolving tensions between kinship carers and workers in statutory kinship care in Australia. It finds that while kinship care provides benefits for children, there are also challenges as kinship carers receive less support than foster carers. Survey respondents noted kinship carers need more training, education, and respite support to develop skills and manage complex family dynamics. The document recommends agencies take different approaches with kinship care, including assessing carers, providing financial support, and connecting carers to support groups, to best support placement stability and meet children's and carers' needs.
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Resolving Tensions between Carers and Workers in Statutory Kinship Care - an Australian Study
- 1. Resolving Tensions betweenCarers and Workers in Statutory Kinship Care - an Australian Study British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect 10 - 14 April 2015 Congress, Edinburgh Marilyn McHugh Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW m.mchugh@unsw.edu.au
- 2. Overview of presentation •OOHC population in Australia • How kinship/relative care is perceived • Importance of placement stability • Benefits for children in KC • Paradoxical nature of statutory KC programs in Australia & elsewhere • Survey respondents’ perceptions of KC • What is needed in KC and why • Recommended practice in KC • Suggested model of support for KC • Best practice in resolving carer/worker tensions • Summary • References
- 3. Introduction • Australia: 40,549children in out-of-home care (OOHC) (30 June 2013) • The highest percentage (93.4%) are in home-based care - 50% kinship care and 40% foster care • 3% other types of home-based care • 5% residential care • In family group homes, independent living and ‘other’ - less than 1% in each of these three categories • Around 1/3 (approx 14,000) children in OOHC Indigenous (from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander background) • 68% of Indigenous children are with relatives/kin, other Indigenous caregivers or in Indigenous residential care (AIHW 2014)
- 4. Kinship/Relative Care • Australiahighest rates of statutory kinship or relative care • Reflects several factors: • Policy preference for using ‘least obtrusive’ option when placing children • Difficulties recruiting/retaining foster carers • Kinship care perceived as less expensive than foster care • The Aboriginal Child Placement Principle outlines a preference for placement of Aboriginal children with other Aboriginal people e.g. with child’s extended family; within child’s Indigenous community; with other Indigenous people • Several studies, but not all, have found higher placement stability in kinship rather than in foster care
- 5. Placement Stability forChildren in Care • Foster/kinship care studies note importance of placement stability: • Minimises child stress, emotional pain & trauma • Decreases emotional & behavioural disorders • Decreases school changes & increases likelihood high school graduation • Increases likelihood attachment & positive relationships with other adults • Ensures needs assessed & addressed in timely & consistent manner • Placement instability results in long-term impact on children’s emotional & physical health, social development, education & future employment prospects
- 6. Benefits for Childrenin Kinship Care • Overview US & UK studies found substantial benefits for children in kinship care including: • Feeling loved, cared for & valued • Ensuring a child’s sense of belonging, identity & culture • Feeling settled because they were with family • Fewer placement moves • Maintenance of contact with family & friends • Higher placement stability (Mackiewicz, 2009) • Review 102 international studies found children in kinship care - experience fewer behavioural problems & had fewer mental health disorders & less placement disruption (Winokur, Holtan & Batchelder (2014)
- 7. Paradoxical nature ofstatutory kinship care programs in Australia & elsewhere • Despite perceived benefits for children overview 62 international studies found in kinship care there were: • Inequitable levels carer support - financial & non-financial • Contentious carer assessment & approval processes (licensing) • Ad hoc approaches placement supervision & monitoring • Lack contact guidelines (Winocur, Holton & Valentine 2009) • These factors also found in this Australian study - most placements were relatively stable, however due to carer vulnerabilities there appeared higher risks for instability to occur in kinship rather than in the foster placements
- 8. Perception of SurveyRespondents • Thirty four (OOHC managers and caseworkers) respondents contributed to an Australian study’s survey on stability. • Acknowledgment by survey respondents included: • Lack of carer support & stressful nature of kinship care • Kinship carers’ deep connection to birth parents presented complexities often left unaddressed by workers • Kinship carers not monitored & often ‘left to it’ by agencies • Kinship families had difficulties dealing with family members including birth parents • After placement workers often reduced involvement & support undermining family’s ability to trust and cooperate when issues arose
- 9. What is neededin Kinship Care and why it matters: Key points noted by respondents • Added support ensures ongoing safety & wellbeing of child • Treat carers as ‘experts’ – let them contribute to solutions • Provide financial support & assist with logistical arrangements (e.g. contact) • Complex family of origin issues require sensitivity - support should be ‘respectful’ enabling family to work with agency & not feel criticised or judged • Placement implications for carers: 'less time' for other grandchildren; less availability supporting other family members; dealing with hurt & anger with adult birth child • Appropriate agency support maintains kinship carers’ commitment to placement
- 10. Recommended Practice forAgencies – Point 1 • Respondents emphasised two specific points: 1. Accreditation (i.e. assessment) processes for 'stranger' (foster) and kinship care need to be totally different • Unlike foster care where carers must be assessed, trained and approved before a placement is made kinship placements can occur with minimal or no carer assessment • Placements where no assessment, or a minimal assessment is conducted on carer family appropriateness, presents a risk not only to stability but also to child safety • Good practice ensures all kinship carers are assessed promptly and all checks are completed
- 11. Recommended Practice forAgencies - Point 2 2. Welfare agencies need to undertake fundamentally different roles in foster & kinship care placements Kinship care is unique. It is not foster care. At the same time it is more than family support ... carers will need a model of support which recognises the child, parents and kinship carers as part of a family system with its own strengths, networks and needs ... there is a strong case for redefining kinship care as a separate category [with its set of regulations and guidance] of looked after children ... this would be a major step forward in recognising the commitment of kinship carers to the child they have taken into their care. (Aldgate and McIntosh (2006: 145) • Agencies require specific kinship care workers for this role
- 12. Recommended Practice forAgencies - Point 3 • Not allowing ‘rules’ to get in the way of good communication; maintaining confidentiality but not allowing ‘rules’ and ‘systems’ as an excuse to keep people uniformed • Munro & Gilligan (2013) describe this process as the ‘dance’ of kinship care, where balance & flexibility is required in navigating a course between regulation (i.e. policy) & relationships (i.e. practice) • Balancing act highlights challenge for agencies & workers and the need for worker training in this area
- 13. Suggested Model ofSupport for Kinship Carers • Subtle difference in providing support to kinship carers • Workers should help families navigate through the systems (e.g. health, education, social services, etc.) provide access to information & where necessary provide training • Oversight role may be less in kinship placement & caseworker role might be less directive & more collaborative (i.e. helping family members come to agreements) • Totally different worker/carer relationships & kin carers should always control the interaction. • Support workers need additional training for kinship care - it is complex & difficult
- 14. Best Practice inresolving carer/worker tensions • Trust to be developed through building relationships with workers, carers & children: complex issues-guilt/shame • Provide same financial support as foster carers • If appropriate provide carer training (e.g. parenting skills, behaviour management, etc.) • Tailor support & interventions around assessed needs & wishes of family • Structures around contact essential to ensure child safety • Worker availability to answer carer queries • Connect carers to support groups (highly beneficial) • Address child protection concerns - carers to demonstrate adequate level of insight & have safety plans in place
- 15. Summary • Survey respondentsacknowledged many constraints & vulnerabilities faced by kinship carers in providing stable care • Need to develop carer skills & insight by providing specific training, education/support & respite • Respondents’ recognition of what kinship carers require denies reality of programs that are not meeting carer or children’s needs • Reduced worker involvement & support undermines a family’s ability to trust & work cooperatively • Some survey respondents indicated negative attitudes towards kinship placements & these attitudes impacted on some families not wanting to be involved with agency workers • Specific carer & worker training may ameliorate tensions
- 16. REFERENCES Aldgate, Jane andMcIntosh, Miranda (2006). Looking after the family: a study of children looked after in kinship care in Scotland. Edinburgh, UK: Astron. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), (2014) Child Protection Australia, 2012-2013, Cat No. Child Welfare Series 49, Canberra Mackiewicz, P. (2009), To examine and compare program elements that achieve positive outcomes for children placed with relatives or kin as a result of child protection intervention, 2007 Churchill Fellowship Report, The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia McHugh, M. (2013) An Exploratory Study of Stability in Foster and Kinship Care in NSW, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW, SPRC Report 19/2013 Munro, E. & Gilligan, R. (2013) ‘The dance of kinship care in England and Ireland: Navigating a course between regulation and relationships’, Psychosocial Intervention Vol. 22:185-192 Winokur M., Holtan A. & Batchelder K.E. (2014) Kinship care for the safety, permanency, and well- being of children removed from the home for maltreatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014:1. Art. No.: CD006546. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD006546.pub3. Winocur, M., Holton, A. & Valentine, D. (2009) Kinship Care for the Safety, Permanency, and Well- being of Children Removed from the Home for Maltreatment, Campbell Systematic Reviews 2009:1, the Campbell Collaboration. Art. No.: CD006546. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006546.pub2.
Editor's Notes
- #3 Overview of presentation Will discuss the OOHC population in Australia How kinship/relative care is perceived Importance of placement stability Benefits for children in KC Paradoxical nature of statutory KC programs in Australia & elsewhere Survey respondents’ perceptions of KC What is needed in KC and why Recommended practice in KC Suggested model of support for KC Best practice in resolving carer/worker tensions Summary References
- #4 INTRODUCTION Australia has 40,549 children in out-of-home care (OOHC) (30 June 2014) The highest percentage (93.4%) of children are in home-based care, 50% in kinship care and 40% in foster care (3% are in other types of home-based care) Five per cent are in residential care In family group homes, independent living and ‘other’ - less than 1% are in each of these three categories Around one third (approx 14,000) of all children in OOHC are Indigenous (from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background) (AIHW 2014) Across Australia, 68% of Indigenous children were placed with relatives/kin, other Indigenous caregivers or in Indigenous residential care.
- #5 KINSHIP OR RELATIVE CARE Australia has one of the highest rates of statutory kinship or relative care as an OOHC placement option In part this reflects several factors: Policy preference for using the ‘least obtrusive’ option when placing children in OOHC Difficulties in recruiting foster carers Kinship care is perceived as less expensive than foster care The Aboriginal Child Placement Principle outlines a preference for the placement of Aboriginal children with other Aboriginal people e.g. with the child’s extended family; within the child’s Indigenous community; with other Indigenous people. Several studies, but not all, have found higher placement stability in kinship rather than in foster care
- #6 PLACEMENT STABILITY Studies note importance of placement stability: Minimises child stress, emotional pain & trauma Ensures child’s sense of belonging, identity & culture, especially important for Indigenous children Decreases emotional & behavioural disorders Decreases school changes & increases likelihood of high school graduation Increases likelihood of attachment & positive relationships with other adults Ensures needs are assessed & addressed in timely & consistent manner Lack of placement stability can have a long-term impact on the emotional & physical health, social development, education & future employment prospects of children in OOHC
- #7 BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN IN KINSHIP CARE An overview of US and UK studies found t here were substantial benefits for children in kinship care including: feeling loved, cared for and valued; Ensuring a child’s sense of belonging, identity & culture feeling settled because they were with family; fewer placement moves; and maintenance of contact with family and friends higher placement stability than in foster care (Mackiewicz, 2009: 2). Review of 102 international studies on foster/kinship care found children in kinship care: experience fewer behavioural problems fewer mental health disorders and had less placement disruption (Winokur, Holtan and Batchelder(2014)
- #8 PARADOXICAL NATURE OF STATUTORY KINSHIP CARE PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA AND ELSEWHERE Despite perceived benefits for children an overview of 62 international studies of foster & kinship care found that kinship care was striking in that there were: Inequitable levels of carer support - financial & non-financial Contentious carer assessment and approval processes (licensing) Ad hoc approaches to placement supervision & monitoring Lack of contact guidelines (Winocur, Holton & Valentine 2009) These factors were also found in this study; most placements were relatively stable, however , due to the vulnerabilities of kinship carers, e.g. older age, chronic health conditions, poorer financial circumstances, etc. there appeared to be higher risks for instability to occur in kinship rather than in the foster placements.
- #9 PERCEPTIONS OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS Thirty four (OOHC managers and caseworkers) respondents contributed to an Australian study’s survey on stability. Acknowledgment by survey respondents included: Lack of carer support & stressful nature of kinship care Kinship carers’ deep connection to birth parents presented complexities often left unaddressed by workers Kinship carers not monitored & often ‘left to it’ by agencies Kinship families had difficulties dealing with family members including birth parents After placement workers often reduced involvement & support undermining family’s ability to trust and cooperate when issues arose
- #10 WHAT IS NEEDED IN KINSHIP CARE AND WHY IT MATTERS: KEY POINTS NOTED BY RESPONDENTS Many kinship carers require added support to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of the child. Kinship carers need to be treated as the ‘expert’ and receive more practical support in terms of financial and logistical arrangements. They often have little choice in becoming carers, requiring more trauma support/education. Complex issues relating to family of origin issues requires sensitivity. Support should be offered in a respectful way so that the family can work with the agency and not feel criticised or judged. Kinship carers require an understanding of placement implications, e.g. 'less time' for other grandchildren; less availability to provide support elsewhere for family; and dealing with hurt and anger associated with their adult birth child With appropriate support, the high commitment by kinship carers to maintain placements will see it endure for long periods.
- #11 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR AGENCIES – POINT 1 In relation to agency practice for foster and kinship care respondents emphasised three specific points: Accreditation (i.e. assessment) processes for 'stranger' (foster) and kinship care need to be totally different. Placements where no assessment, or a minimal assessment is conducted on carer family appropriateness, presents a risk not only to stability but also to child safety. Good practice ensures all kinship carers are assessed promptly and all checks are completed
- #12 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR AGENCIES – POINT 2 Welfare agencies need to undertake fundamentally different roles in foster & kinship care placements Kinship care is unique. It is not foster care. At the same time it is more than family support ... carers will need a model of support which recognises the child, parents and kinship carers as part of a family system with its own strengths, networks and needs ... there is a strong case for redefining kinship care as a separate category [with its set of regulations and guidance] of looked after children ... this would be a major step forward in recognising the commitment of kinship carers to the child they have taken into their care. (Aldgate and McIntosh (2006: 145) Agencies require specific kinship care workers for this role
- #13 Recommended Practice for Agencies - Point 3 Not allowing ‘rules’ to get in the way of good communication; maintaining confidentiality but not allowing ‘rules’ and ‘systems’ as an excuse to keep people uniformed Munro & Gilligan (2013) describe this process as the ‘dance’ of kinship care, where balance & flexibility is required in navigating a course between regulation (i.e. policy) & relationships (i.e. practice) Balancing act highlights challenge for agencies & workers and the need for worker training in this area
- #14 SUGGESTED MODEL OF SUPPORT FOR KINSHIP CARERS Some survey respondents thought that there was a subtle difference in how support should be provided to kinship carers Workers are to help support families navigate through the systems, (e.g. health, education, social services, etc.) provide access to information and where necessary provide training to meet their particular placement needs. The oversight role might be less in a kinship arrangement and the caseworker role might be less directive and more collaborative (i.e. helping the family members come to an agreement). These are totally different relationships and kin carers should always control the interaction. Support workers need additional training for this type of care as it is complex and difficult.
- #15 SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICE IN RESOLVING CARER/WORKER TENSIONS Trust needs to be developed through building relationships with workers, carers & children, especially when dealing with carer guilt/shame Provide same financial support as foster carers If appropriate provide training (including parenting skills) for kinship carers Kinship carers to be eligible for the same financial support as foster carers. Tailor support and interventions around the assessed needs and wishes of family members. Put structures in around contact to ensure child safety Be available to answer a kinship carer’s enquiries. Connect kinship carers to a support group. Child protection concerns need to be addressed with kinship carers. Kinship carers need to demonstrate an adequate level of insight and have safety plans in place for child protection concerns.
- #16 SUMMARY In several areas, respondents with kinship care experience, acknowledged the many constraints and vulnerabilities that kinship carers faced in providing stable care They noted the need to develop carer skills and insight by providing specific training, education/support and respite. Respondents’ recognition of what kinship carers require, while a positive sign, denies the reality of programs that do not always meet their needs Reduced worker involvement and support, undermines a family’s ability to trust and work cooperatively. Some tension was evident with survey respondents who indicated a number of negative attitudes towards kinship placements. These tensions were mirrored in carer stories of not wanting to be involved with agency workers. Specific training for workers and carers involved in kinship placements may go some way in ameliorating these tensions.