Published on
1 April 2021
This review appraises research on children’s and families’ services, highlighting challenges faced during COVID-19, how these were navigated, and good practice identified.
Overview of results:
- The review finds that the needs of families often intersect and compound one another, and an increased risk of maltreatment and deterioration of mental health is identified, particularly for groups at greater risk of vulnerability.
- Services faced challenges with reduced face-to-face contact, limiting their ability to safeguard, alongside an increase in referrals, case complexity, intersectionality and barriers to effective service delivery where families had no access to technology.
- Elements of good practice are identified, including the use of flexible approaches, working innovatively with new partners, using technology to deliver services, offering targeted support, and co-production of service planning with children and families.
Keywords: COVID-19; Children’s and Families’ Services