Social workers are often known, and at times criticised, for their role in separating children from their families and placing them into care. While these decisions are taken with the child’s best interest at heart, the act of removal itself can be deeply traumatic.
The emotional impact on the child during their transition into care is well documented. Many social workers describe this process as the most emotionally challenging part of their profession. Yet, despite the significance of this transition, a review of existing literature revealed a notable lack of research, training, and guidance in the UK to support practitioners in carrying out these separations in a safe, compassionate, and trauma-informed manner.
In a system where children are already facing the most difficult moment of their young lives, this lack of structured support leaves social workers feeling deskilled, isolated, and overwhelmed. These emotions can, in turn, affect their ability to respond empathetically and effectively.
To address this critical gap, the Children Coming into Our Care (CCIOC) project was launched in 2023. This initiative provides a structured, multi-disciplinary approach designed to minimise trauma for children during the separation process. It aims to empower practitioners with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to carry out their work to the highest possible standard, ensuring that every child entering care experiences compassion, stability, and understanding at the very beginning of their journey.
Key principles of CCIOC
The CCIOC framework is based on eight guiding principles. These were developed collaboratively, informed by the insights of professionals across disciplines and shaped by the lived experiences of children who have entered care. Together, these principles form a new standard of practice in Lewisham Children’s Services - one that prioritises trauma reduction and compassion.
1. Multi-agency planning
At the heart of CCIOC is the principle of early, coordinated planning through structured meetings. This can be incorporated into existing strategy discussions and bring together professionals from multiple disciplines to create a tailored transition plan for each child.
This plan considers the child’s individual needs, background, and vulnerabilities, ensuring that all actions are geared toward reducing trauma. Where appropriate, these meetings also involve parents, extended family, and even the child themselves, particularly when the care plan is mutually agreed upon. This inclusive approach has proven critical in building trust and ensuring smoother transitions.
2. Children’s safety
A child's safety must remain paramount. CCIOC meetings ensure that all potential risks are carefully assessed and addressed. This includes considering dangers that may arise from parents, the community, or even the child’s own behaviour. Whenever possible, police involvement is avoided, as the presence of police can lead children to believe they have done something wrong, compounding feelings of fear, guilt, or shame.
3. Working in partnership
Working collaboratively with parents and extended family can significantly reduce the trauma of separation. Families who support the care plan can be involved in practical preparations, for example, helping to pack belongings or visiting foster placements. They also play an important role in crafting the narrative that explains the separation to the child.
When family members participate actively in the transition process, they can offer emotional reassurance and continuity, easing the emotional burden for both the child and the parents.
4. Ongoing family relationships
Children are reassured that separation from their family does not mean the end of those relationships. CCIOC prioritises the development of clear, well-communicated family time plans. This includes details about visits with parents, siblings, and extended family members, sometimes even pets. These are shared with the child on the day of separation to help reduce anxiety and maintain a sense of connection and hope.
5. Information sharing
Children deserve clear, age-appropriate information about what is happening to them. CCIOC practitioners are trained to explain the separation and transition process using language and concepts that the child can understand.
Whether a child is entering a foster family or another type of placement, efforts are made to familiarise them with their new environment through photos, descriptions, and personalised details. This helps children feel more secure and less fearful about the unknown.
6. Trauma-informed care
CCIOC promotes a trauma-informed approach at every level. Practitioners are trained to understand and validate the emotions children experience during separation. They provide emotional containment, reassurance, and, when appropriate, physical comfort. Special attention is given to small but meaningful details, like offering a transitional object (a teddy bear, blanket, or photo) to carry with them into their new environment. These thoughtful gestures can have a significant impact on a child's sense of security.
7. Support for practitioners
Recognising the emotional toll this takes on professionals, CCIOC ensures that no practitioner handles a separation alone. Team support, structured debriefings, and clinical supervision are built into the process. These measures not only support practitioners’ wellbeing but also enhance the quality of care they are able to provide to children.
8. Resources
Finally, CCIOC recognises the practical importance of appropriate resources. Children’s belongings are never placed in bin bags, a practice that can reinforce feelings of worthlessness. Instead, partnerships with organisations like Madlug ensure children receive dignified luggage, such as proper suitcases or backpacks. The initiative also advocates for child-friendly spaces in social work offices and for transport providers (like taxi drivers) to receive safeguarding training.
The impact of CCIOC
Preliminary research by Goldsmiths University has shown promising results. CCIOC meetings have improved planning and reduced the emotional distress children experience on the day of separation. Enhanced collaboration across agencies has led to more cohesive support systems for children, while practitioners report feeling more confident and capable in managing these emotionally charged moments. The children who have experienced this approach to date also have stable placements.
Moreover, training delivered to social workers, children’s guardians and students has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. By embedding trauma-informed principles into standard practice, CCIOC is not only changing how children are brought into care - it is reshaping the culture of social work.
Looking ahead, the CCIOC team is working to expand its reach, offering training and resources to other local authorities. With continued collaboration, this approach has the potential to become a new national standard; one that places compassion, dignity, and care at the centre of every child’s journey.