Challenging behaviour in foster care: what supports do foster carers want?

Abstract

Foster carers frequently report receiving insufficient or inadequate support for the challenging behaviour of the children they look after. There is a need to understand the support that foster carers require. This study explores foster carers' perspectives in order to inform the development of more effective support services. One hundred and eighty-seven foster carers completed an online survey that sought information about the nature and form of that potential support. The respondents desired accurate information about children's behaviour, good quality relationships with professionals and in-home support delivered by knowledgeable people (principally other foster carers). Preferences differed among carers serving different functions but less so according to the extent of their experience.