Returning a child home to their family following a stay in local authority care can be a time of great change for both the child and their family.
The learning from case reviews highlights the need for professionals to thoroughly assess risk, protective factors and parental capacity, make clear preparations for the return, and share information with professionals working in other agencies. They also need to provide support for the child and familiy and continue to monitor the child’s safety and wellbeing before, during and after the return.
This briefing is based on a sample of case reviews published between 2016 and 2023 which have highlighted lessons for returning children home from care.
