Taking a child away from its parents is one of the most significant, life-altering powers available to the state. Consequently, when, and how this is power is exercised is one of the most controversial elements of family policy. Over recent years, high profile failures in child protection cases have provoked public outrage, and the argument that the state needs to do more to guarantee the safety and well-being of children is becoming a familiar one. Yet, in their efforts to act in the best interest of the child, it is widely acknowledged that social workers themselves face a difficult dilemma; the infamously poor outcomes for looked after children can act as a powerful deterrent against taking a child into care.

Rather than accepting that the state can only ever be a second-rate parent, now is the right time to re-think the ways in which it could successfully nurture young people lacking family support. This wide ranging project will start with the views of young people, to ask how the state can ensure that they are financially, academically and emotionally resilient once they leave the care system.The research will not only explore the role played by social workers and foster parents, but also the part played by a wider range of agencies and professionals (schools, community groups, and society more broadly). The final report will outline what young people should be able to expect when the state acts 'in loco parentis'.