Research questions

Removing a child from their home is a decision with far-reaching consequences for all those involved. Social workers and family judges have the responsibility to make important considerations regarding the child’s best interest and to guide families through this process. The participation of children enables decision-makers to consider the needs of children and to make well-informed decisions. Hopefully, this leads to decisions that are more easily accepted by children, even if the decisions will not always be what they would have wanted.

The central research question of this project is:

‘How is the voice of children under the age of twelve currently weighted in the decision for out-of-home placement and how can this be strengthened?’

The central question is divided into multiple specific questions:

• What is stated in (inter)national law and Dutch policy about hearing children under the age of twelve on important decisions, specifically an out-of-home placement decisions?
• How is it decided whether a child under the age of twelve is able to give his or her views?
• Are the views of children considered in the out-of-home placement decision?
• How are their views weighted?
• How and under what circumstances do children under the age of twelve want to participate in the out-of-home placement decision?
• Which recommendations can be formulated for professionals, family judges and policy makers regarding the participation of children under the age of twelve regarding the out-of-home placement decision?

The research questions will be answered by conducting a policy analysis, interviews with children and professionals, and a case file study. Through using different research methods and questioning different experts, the results of this study will be a reflection of current practices and can therewith provide implications to strengthen practice.