Social Action
Do Social Services Try to Keep Families Together?
When people think about social services, it’s not uncommon to imagine the most challenging scenarios where children are removed from their birth families. But is that really the aim of social services, or do they actively try to keep families together? This is an important question — and one that we at Compass Fostering often hear from prospective foster carers and families.
The answer is simple but nuanced: Yes, social services strive to keep families together wherever it is safe to do so and remains in the best interests of the child. This is a key principle enshrined in government legislation, including the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. These guide all child protection procedures in the UK. With that in mind, let’s explore how social services work to achieve this goal, what happens when keeping families together becomes impossible, and how fostering plays a critical role in supporting both families and children.
The Role of Social Services
First, it is important to understand that social services primarily exist to safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable kids. Their ultimate aim is to provide support that will enable families to thrive together. This includes everything from offering parenting advice, connecting families to resources including mental health services or financial aid, and helping parents create a safe and nurturing environment for their children.
Every effort is made to address issues within the family unit so that children are able to remain at home. After all, keeping families together is more often than not the best option for a child’s emotional and developmental needs. Should concerns arise about a child’s safety, however, social services may begin a Child Protection Plan, outlining a plan of support and action to not only address immediate issues but ensure the child’s continued wellbeing.
Give vulnerable kids stability and empathy.
When Children Enter Foster Care
Sometimes, despite every effort, it may no longer be safe for a child to remain with their birth family. In such cases, social services will have to intervene to ensure the child’s wellbeing and safety. This decision is never taken lightly and occurs only when a child is at significant risk of harm or neglect.
Even when children enter foster care, the goal is ultimately to reunite them with their families as soon as the necessary changes have been made. However, it is important to acknowledge that reunification isn’t always successful. According to Action for Children, although between 2022 and 2023, 27 percent of children leaving care returned home, up to 35 percent re-enter care within six years of reunification.
This highlights the critical need for comprehensive family support services, both before and after reunification, to ensure children can thrive in a safe environment. Foster carers often play a critical role here, providing a bridge of ongoing stability whilst families work through challenges.
How Fostering Fits In
Fostering plays a vital role in the child protection system. Foster carers provide a safe, stable and loving home for children who cannot live with their families. While fostering is often seen as a temporary solution, it is also an essential one.
In many cases, fostering complements the goal of family reunification. After all, foster carers work in partnership with social services, birth families, and other professionals to support children both emotionally and practically. Carers might facilitate contact with the child’s parents, for instance, helping to maintain those all-important family bonds. This contact will vary from supervised visits at a contact centre to unsupervised visits at the foster home, depending on circumstances and the child’s needs.
Even when reunification isn’t possible, foster carers continue to provide children with the love and stability they need to thrive, whether through long-term fostering arrangements or supporting their journey to adoption.
At Compass, we ensure our foster carers are fully equipped to provide the best possible care. Through wraparound support and comprehensive training, we help carers develop the skills required to navigate the fostering journey with confidence. Whether you’re an experienced or first-time carer, we support you every step of the way.
The Bottom Line
Regrettably, it is a common misconception that social services and fostering aim to separate families. In reality, both are part of a larger system designed not only to protect children but prioritise family relationships wherever possible.
At Compass, we are proud to support children and families at every turn. Whether it’s working towards reunification or providing a safe haven for children in need, our foster carers are an integral part of this process.
Could You Make a Difference?
If you’re considering fostering, you could play a vital role in supporting vulnerable children and families. People like you are exactly who we need — those with compassion, resilience, and a commitment to helping children thrive.
To learn more about fostering and how you can make a difference, get in touch with our friendly team today. Together, we can give children the bright futures they deserve.
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