Examining rates and risk factors for post-order adoption disruption in England and Wales through survival analyses

Journal article

This paper reports findings from two research studies that set out to calculate the rate and predictors of post-order adoption disruption in England and Wales. Methods All available national level administrative data on adopted children in England and Wales were analysed, supplemented by national surveys adoption managers. Complete national datasets were available 12 years in England and for 11 years in Wales. Results Of the 36,749 and 2,317 adoptions considered, 565 in England and 35 in Wales had disrupted over the follow up period. Kaplan-Meier analyses indicate that cumulative post-order adoption disruption rates were 3.2% and 2.6% respectively for England and Wales. Cox regression models indicate that being older than four years adoptive placement, adoptive parents taking longer than a year to legalise the adoption, being a teenager and previous multiple placements in care were risk factors for post-order adoption disruption. Conclusion The post order adoption disruption rate is low. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Authors: Wijedasa, D; Selwyn, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Children and Youth Services Review
• Volume: 83
• Pages: 179-189
• Publication date: 2017-10-06
• Acceptance date: 2017-10-05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.005
• ISSN: 0190-7409
• Keywords: FFR