The Importance of Stability in the Lives of Looked After Children: A Study of Under Fives in Northern Ireland

This paper is based on a presentation made at the conference 'From the Margins to the Centre: Innovations in Social Work Research in Northern Ireland', 17th January 2003. The paper explores the concept of stability and its relevance to the lives of younger children who are looked after and reviews recent child care policy initiatives in relation to this. The paper also presents data from the early stages of a longitudinal research project currently being carried out by the Institute of Child Care Research, examining the extent of stability in the care careers of younger looked after children (younger than 5 years) in Northern Ireland. These children come from extremely adverse family circumstances and the paper explores issues of care planning and the extent to which stability has been achieved to date at this early stage in their care careers.