A study of the experiences of parents with a learning disability when they were in contact with children's social care (CSC) and family courts found that social workers often failed to recognise a parent's learning disability and / or to know what to do about it or where to seek support for them selves and the parent. Without this, parents may face multiple referrals to CSC without appropriate help ever being provided and sometimes risk being subject to more intrusive responses at a later stage.
This animation is intended to help social workers be curious about the needs of parents with a learning disability and to seek advice if they are not sure what are the next steps.
It was made by My Pockets in collaboration with HSCWRU at King's College London, Mencap Cymru and Pause Service in London Borough of Southwark. It is based on research funded by NIHR School of Social Care Research that involved 334 professionals across adult and children's social care, health, law and advocacy, as well as with parents from Elfrida Society's Parents Group and parents in the case study areas. For further details contact mary.baginsky@kcl.ac.uk
Name of study: The role of adult social care for parents with learning disabilities when a child is no longer in their care.
The study was conducted by researchers at King's College London (Principal Investigator: Mary Baginsky).
Project page for this study at King's College London: www.kcl.ac.uk/research/parents-with-learning-disabilities