Abstract
BackgroundThe needs of children in care are a government priority, yet the evidence base for effective interventions to support the emotional wellbeing of children in care is lacking. Research suggests that supporting the carer-child relationship, by promoting the carer’s reflective parenting, may be an effective approach to improving the wellbeing of these children.MethodsThe study comprises a definitive, superiority, two-armed, parallel, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial, with embedded process evaluation and economic evaluation, and an internal pilot, to evaluate the effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, of the Reflective Fostering Programme. Randomisation is at the individual level using a 1:1 allocation ratio. The study is being conducted in local authority sites across England, and is targeted at foster carers (including kinship carers) looking after children aged 4 to 13. Consenting participants are randomly allocated to the Reflective Fostering Programme (intervention arm) in addition to usual support or usual support alone (control arm). The primary outcome is behavioural and emotional wellbeing of the child 12 months post-baseline, and secondary outcomes include the following: foster carer’s level of stress, quality of life, reflective capacity, compassion fatigue and burnout, placement stability, the quality of the child-carer relationship, child’s capacity for emotional regulation, and achievement of personalised goals set by the carer.DiscussionA feasibility study has indicated effectiveness of the Programme in improving the child-carer relationship and emotional and behavioural wellbeing of children in care. This study will test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implementing the Reflective Fostering Programme as an additional aid to the support already available to local authority foster carers.Trial registrationISRCTN 70832140.
Highlights
Background and rationale {6a} The needs of children in care are a government priority [1] as they are ‘one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our society’ [2]
Most parenting programmes available for foster carers have centred around teaching behaviour management skills and do not focus primarily on developing reflective capacity in carers
The Reflective Fostering Programme offers a new approach to improving the lives and wellbeing of children in care, by teaching foster carers to understand their own feelings and in turn, to respond more effectively to the children in their care
Summary
Background and rationale {6a} The needs of children in care are a government priority [1] as they are ‘one of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our society’ [2]. In 2019, the number of children in care in England increased by 4% to 78,150. Of these children, 72% were in foster placements [4]. Compromised care heightens the risk of negative outcomes for children in care, leading to increased placement instability [7] and poor health, educational, and social outcomes [8]. The needs of children in care are a government priority, yet the evidence base for effective interventions to support the emotional wellbeing of children in care is lacking. Research suggests that supporting the carer-child relationship, by promoting the carer’s reflective parenting, may be an effective approach to improving the wellbeing of these children
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
