Feasability study:Foundations for attachment in looked after children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Foundations for attachment in looked after children: A feasibility and acceptability study of a group-based programme for caregivers.
IRAS ID
333578
Contact name
David McCormack
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queens University Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 10 days
Research summary
The attachment-related difficulties of looked-after children are recognized within research, with early adverse experiences suggested to be kept going by the care system itself. Policy guidelines and research literature suggest that relationships are important for looked-after children. Research suggests that a young person’s primary caregiver, for example, a foster caregiver, plays a critical role in their development. Looked-after children tend to present with complex mental health and behavioral needs. Given these complexities, specific interventions have been developed for foster caregivers. This proposed study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a caregiver-mediated intervention for looked-after children. The intervention is currently being delivered as part of routine service delivery. This study will use both qualitative and quantitative methods. One Health and Social Care Trust (Southern Health and Social Care Trust) within Northern Ireland will participate in this study. The intervention comprises a group for foster carers that aims to help them develop an understanding of the difficulties the young person in their care presents with, as well as the role of their own attachment history in the caregiving role and the importance of self-care. The group will consist of six sessions that take up to three hours for each session. Foster carers will complete outcome measures at three time points: baseline, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up. Foster carers will also complete a program evaluation measure. This study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of ‘Foundations for Attachment', which may subsequently inform a future larger trial.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
23/NI/0162
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion