Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe a five year cohort of children whose placements for adoption or long-term (permanent) fostering were recommended by Newcastle upon Tyne Family Placement Panel and to determine the outcome of these placements. DESIGN: Retrospective total five year cohort study. Outcome data were extracted from records three to five years after placement. SETTING: Newcastle upon Tyne Social Services Adoption and Fostering Unit. SUBJECTS: All 234 permanent family placements recommended by the Family Placement Panel from 1 January 1986 to 31 December 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Disruption of the placement. RESULTS: A total of 20% of the placements had disrupted (2% of adoptive placements and 51% of long-term fostering placements). Disruption was generally associated with increased age at placement. Disruption was not associated with special needs, the sex of the child, previous disruption, or being placed with siblings. Forty four percent of children from disrupted placements returned to live with their birth families. CONCLUSION: In view of the poor outcome for older children, there is a case for more preventative work and also for more support after placement.