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Children’s social care should place greater emphasis on supporting children to return safely to their families, according to a new practice guide highlighting the need for better planning, preparation and ongoing support for reunification.
The Reunification Practice Guide, commissioned by the Department for Education and produced by Foundations, sets out evidence-based recommendations for improving how services support children who may return home after being looked after.
The guide argues that reunification is one of the most common ways children leave care, but is too often overlooked compared with other permanence options. It highlights concerns that children and families can feel unsupported during the process, with some parents describing a sudden loss of assistance once a child returns home.
Drawing on a systematic review of existing evidence, the guide examines what works, for whom and in what circumstances, translating findings into practical recommendations for practitioners and commissioners.
It identifies four key principles for improving reunification practice.
The first is that planning for a possible return home should begin when a child enters care, rather than only when reunification becomes imminent. The guide states that, while immediate safeguarding concerns must remain the priority, reunification should be considered within care planning meetings, looked-after children reviews and professional supervision where appropriate.
The second principle is that families need clear expectations, honest communication and achievable goals. The guide highlights the importance of partnership working and shared decision-making, noting that parents can feel decisions are made about them rather than with them. Successful reunification requires families to understand what needs to change, what support is available and how progress will be assessed.
The guide’s third recommendation is that returning home should not mark the end of professional involvement. It describes reunification as a process rather than a single event and emphasises the importance of continued support for children and families after a child returns home. Without sustained assistance, the risk of reunification breaking down increases, potentially resulting in further disruption and trauma for children.
The final principle is that reunification requires collaboration beyond children’s social care. The guide highlights the role of housing, education, health services, Family Hubs, Early Help provision, voluntary organisations and community partners in addressing barriers that can affect whether a return home is successful.
Examples include housing challenges that can prevent children returning to their parents, where families may be unable to access suitable accommodation because their children are no longer living with them, while children cannot return home because their parents’ housing situation is unsuitable.
Harpreet Ahdan, from Foundations, said the evidence behind the guide reinforced what children, families and practitioners had consistently highlighted: that reunification requires preparation, relationship-building and support both before and after a child returns home.
The publication follows the Department for Education’s announcement of a strategy focused on supporting enduring relationships for care-experienced young people. It aims to place reunification at the centre of discussions about children’s futures and ensure families receive the support needed to achieve safe and lasting returns home wherever possible.
