When young people are exposed to harm in contexts beyond their families, we know that children's social care services sometimes places these young people in 'out of area' placements. These 'relocations' move young people away from harmful people or places, but are they effective in addressing harm? How often are they happening, and what is the cost to local authorities, and to young people, parents/carers and communities? The Securing Safety study aimed to answer these questions by surveying local authorities and carrying out interviews with young people and their families who have experienced relocation. We found that approximately 1 in 10 young people who are known to children's social care services due to extra-familial risk are relocated; that the impacts of relocation are broad, and the cost can be high. Read on to find out more.
These resources have been developed following engagement with professionals, young people and their parents/carers who have been involved in a 'relocation', they make recommendations for planning for relocations and are suggested for all of those involved in decision-making; including young people, parents/carers/social workers/IRO's/and professionals who sit on decision making panels.
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Blog: Securing SafetyThis blog post provides a summary of the whole study and outlines what we found, how we found it, and importantly, what this means for future policy and practice in this area. -
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Animation: Securing SafetyThis animations shares research findings from the first phase of the Securing Safety study. -
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Infographic: Relocation dataThis infographic shows the snapshot data from 13 local authorities on the ways relocation was used as a response to EFH in England and Wales in September 2019. -
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Infographic: Securing SafetyInfographic outlining policy recommendations based on the findings of the Securing Safety research. -
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A summary of the phase one results from the Securing Safety studyThis briefing reports on the statistical and thematic findings of the first phase of the Securing Safety study. -
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Research briefing: An international scoping reviewThis briefing shares findings from an international scoping review exploring the use of out-of-home care placements or secure accommodation. -
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Journal Article: Last Resort or Best Interest?This journal article presents findings from the Securing Safety study. -
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Blog: Securing Safety phase oneA blog on the Securing Safety Phase one briefing launched outlining the first year findings.
