Second Chances: What helps parents with LD to parent again
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Second Chances: Experiences of what helped parents with a learning disability to parent again following loss of custody of a child.
IRAS ID
252168
Contact name
Alison M MacLeod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore what helps parents with learning disabilities to successfully parent following the removal of a child. Around half of parents with LD have had their children removed from their care by the courts. Identifying which families can successfully parent and balancing the rights of the child and parent is a complex process. The implications of decision making are immense for the child, parents, social, health and legal systems. It is important to recognise factors associated with successful parenting. Seeking support from professionals therefore presents a complex tension for parents with LD as they are often accessing support from the very professionals and organisations who make decisions about the care of their child (Booth, Booth & McConnell, 2004). Finding out what helps successful parenting following the removal of a child will provide valuable information on how vulnerable and at-risk groups can be supported.
This study will employ a qualitative method and aims to recruit six parents from the Cornwall Special Parenting Service (SPS) to take a part in an interview exploring what has helped them to successfully parent. The interviews will be recorded by dictaphone. Participants will be asked to give the names of up to three professionals involved in their care who they give consent to the researcher to speak with about their care. The professionals will be asked to provide structured reflections on what they experienced as helpful to enable successful parenting. Data gathered will be transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The results will hopefully inform clinical practice and decision making.I recognise that there are various terms that could be used to describe this population (e.g. Intellectual disabilities – ID) however the term learning disability or LD is the term preferred by the individuals I have met and worked with.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0606
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion