Retaining foster carers during challenging times: the benefits of embedding reflective practice into the foster care role

Abstract

Retaining high quality foster carers and helping them to manage the intense emotional impact of caring for young traumatised children is still a major challenge. While foster carer training helps in the short term, international findings suggest that training and support structures alone may not sustain foster carers when times get tough. This article considers the benefits of embedding reflective practice into the role of foster carers. It draws on a qualitative study of five foster carers and two birth mothers receiving specialist help whose children have experienced severe trauma, early neglect and/or abuse and who attend a residential special school for primary-aged children where staff reflective practice is at the core of its work. The carers of all new pupils during a 12-month period were interviewed at the start of placement and one year later and the emerging themes were identified. All of the foster carers reported that after the first year children were less violent and aggressive and more able to verbalise their feelings. Some also began to change their perception of their child’s difficulties. The birth parents also reported improvements but the focus of their concerns and details of the benefits were different. The article argues that in addition to training, all carers who look after severely traumatised children would benefit from regular opportunities to genuinely reflect on the impact that their caring role has on them and that their children’s development will be enhanced by the reduction in challenging behaviour and the risk of placement disruption. However, within the reflective process, different groups of carers will have their own particular concerns.