Placement and contact

Choosing a placement for a child or young person in care is arguably one of the most important decisions that social workers regularly take. The right placement can ensure that a child is happy and fulfilled, and create a sound basis for her or his development into adulthood. The wrong placement can leave a child unhappy or emotionally ‘stuck’, can trigger educational or other developmental difficulties, or can lead to a pattern of instability and movement that, at worst, may last through childhood and beyond.