Disabled parents living without their children

This portfolio has three parts: a systematic literature review, an empirical paper and appendices.Part one is a systematic literature review in which the empirical literature relating to factors influencing decision making within the child protection context is reviewed. A systematic search of eight databases identified fourteen relevant studies. The findings suggest decisions within child protection are influenced by a range of factors. These factors cluster around the case, the decision-maker, the organisation and society. The implications of the findings emphasise the importance of reflective decision making practices. Future research is urgently needed in this area to increase understanding and facilitate better decisions that help children and their families.Part two is an empirical paper, which explores the experiences of parents with intellectual disabilities following their children entering the looked-after system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six parents and their experiences analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five super-ordinate themes emerged. The results highlight the need for the development of a different protocol for removing children and supporting parents with intellectual disabilities. Areas for future research are also discussed.Part three comprises the appendices which support the first two parts of this portfolio. This section also includes a reflective statement of the research process