Perceptions of permanence

Despite the challenges of caring for these children, most special guardians who responded to our survey still felt, on reflection, that taking up Special Guardianship had been the right decision for them (78 per cent), their child (88 per cent) and for the guardian’s own family (74 per cent). Most also felt that the SGO was doing what it was intended to do. They were generally satisfied that it had provided the foundation for a lasting permanent placement (94 per cent), the legal security they needed (78 per cent) and provided sufficient scope for them to make decisions on behalf of their children as parents (84 per cent). In addition, most guardians felt there was no longer a risk of their children entering (or re-entering) foster care (89 per cent). Clearly, therefore, there was a good degree of satisfaction with the order itself.

Special guardians were asked what had been most rewarding about becoming a special guardian. Their brief comments on the questionnaire were frequently very moving. At its heart, were their feelings of love for their child, the pleasure they derived from their everyday interactions and from the close attachments that had grown over time. Their brief comments demonstrate the very high level of commitment carers displayed towards their children; a finding common in studies of kinship care (Hunt, 2003; Broad, 2007; Farmer and Moyers, 2008).

‘He is a wonderful little boy who is engaging and hilarious to be around. He has added

another dimension to my life.’

‘She's a pleasure, the best thing that ever happened to us. I’m so happy that she is safe

now.’

Feelings of satisfaction arose from being able to provide children with a safe, secure and permanent family home within which they could experience stability and have opportunities to grow in confidence and develop new skills in ways that they might not otherwise have done, given their disadvantaged starting points.

‘He was very unsettled emotionally. We feel we have given him confidence and stability.

He still struggles sometimes but we know he loves us very much and loves being part of a loving family.’

‘Giving him a stable and loving home and watching him grow into a wonderful, kind and

helpful young man. He has had large obstacles to overcome over the years and has

faced them head on.’

‘I am able to give love and support to a beautiful intelligent little girl, without fear of

anyone taking her away, disrupting and confusing her. Love stability and a sense of

permanent belonging.’

Watching children flourish and mature as they grew older gave carers a strong sense of pride in their own achievements, with some feeling it was the most important thing they had done in their lives. Equally rewarding was the potential that Special Guardianship gave for children to

experience a normal family life, for guardians to feel that they could now take all the important decisions that affected their children’s lives and, where the child had previously been looked after, to do this without interference from the local authority.

‘We could cut the ties with the local authority and move on. He was not labelled as

'fostered' and had a 'normal' life without interference. He didn't feel under pressure and felt free.’

Feelings of permanence were therefore enhanced through the legal security the order provided. There was great comfort to be had from knowing that their child could grow up within the family network and that they were no longer at risk of being taken into care and perhaps placed for adoption as, in some instances, had been the case for other family members.

‘I've had the pleasure of watching my grand-daughter grow up in a loving home around

her family rather than in care.’

‘Most rewarding has been keeping her and her brother out of the system. I know that

they're not going to be a statistic; that's been the most rewarding thing. Keeping them in the family; offering them what I have. I give them whatever I have, which amounts to

stability, a reasonable standard of living and someone who unconditionally loves them.’

Within the interview sample, children also often spoke with great fondness about the quality of the relationships they had established with their guardians. Children’s feelings of permanence grew not so much through the granting of a particular legal order, which frequently seemed relatively insignificant, but from a feeling of psychological permanence that accrued from their carers making

a long-term commitment to them (see, Gleeson et al., 1997; Altshuler, 1999). Children’s sense of belonging grew through feelings of safety, security and gradual inclusion within the wider family network.

‘I’m happy now. I do like it, it’s great…They (his grandparents) always think what’s best

for me…They don’t let me down ever, so it’s always nice to know that, innit? I love

everything about it. I feel loved. I’m just happy here.’

(Cory, age 12)

‘It just feels like a normal family really…We do normal things. It’s nothing different from

a normal family really…My life is perfect how it is now.’

(Hannah, age 13, living with her former foster carers)