Research commissioned by the Department for Education suggests that there is a desire among family courts to push for a placement within the wider family as a result of legal rulings from 2013 calling on local authorities to provide evidence that all alternatives to adoption have been considered.
See Children & Young People Now article: Fears raised over ‘damaging’ special guardianship placements
We recommend reading of the full report here: Impact of the Family Justice Reforms on Front-line Practice Phase Two: Special Guardianship Orders Research report August 2015
Government consultation on the use of Special Guardianship Orders: The National IRO Manager Partnership response