A study to identify the skills level, experience and training needs of foster carers in regard to high-risk self-harming behaviours by looked after children and young people within England

Abstract

Foster carers play a valuable role in meeting the needs of children who are looked after with Foster Care in the U.K being the chosen method of care for children who have not been adopted or cared for by their families. This paper’s purpose was the evaluation of the training needs of foster carers in the Northwest of England with a view to examining their learning needs around self-harming behaviours, as this appeared to the local government as a major cause of placement breakdowns. The study utilised a mixed methods approach with the use of two self-administered questionnaires and a follow up focus group. The sample consisted of 48 Foster carers, who were subject of two questionnaires. The data was then analysed by the use of SPSS and qualitatively utilising thematic raised by the service user in the focus groups. The research established that fosters carers regardless of their experience had major training needs around coping with self-injurious self –harming behaviours and that it was the anxiety this caused that was seen as the most likely cause of placement breakdown.