Contact with parents for infants in Early Permanence placements: an exploration of the experiences of parents, carers and practitioners.

Copson, Ruth Richenda (2024) Contact with parents for infants in Early Permanence placements: an exploration of the experiences of parents, carers and practitioners. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Early Permanence (EP) and supervised contact between infants and their parents (typically referred to as ‘family time’ in the UK) are two under-researched areas of social work practice. EP involves placing young children with prospective adopters who are also approved foster carers for the duration of care proceedings, with whom the child remains if adoption is deemed to be in their best interests. The child will usually continue to see their parents at a family centre, supervised by a practitioner, where there are often regular, but brief, opportunities for parents and carers to meet. The circumstances of EP are unique in that both parents and carers hope to permanently care for the child.

This qualitative study took a multi-perspective approach to produce a comprehensive picture of how contact in EP was constructed by those who managed and experienced it. Data were collected from parents (n=6), EP carers (n=9) and practitioners (n=23) through interviews and focus groups. Participants’ reflections on how infants responded were also captured. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, with change over the course of proceedings captured through longitudinal and retrospective methods.

The findings showed that infants were sometimes perceived as finding contact stressful. The purpose of contact was viewed differently by different people and professionals took varied approaches to their role within contact sessions. Both parents and carers experienced a contested and unsettling parental identity, theorised as ‘disenfranchised parenting’. This created challenges in their ability to relate to each other. Opportunities for relationship-building between parents and carers were present, but positive foundations were often not built upon in the long-term. Implications for policy and practice are discussed and a model of good practice for contact in EP is proposed which aims to support infants, parents, and carers to experience safe, comfortable and meaningful contact.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
Depositing User:	Kitty Laine
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2025 12:26
Last Modified:	11 Jun 2025 12:26
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99463
DOI:

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