Fostering Attachments in Looked After Children: Further Insight Into the Group-Based Programme for Foster Carers (Report‪)‬

Introduction Many children who are placed in local authority care have been the victims of abuse and neglect (Quinton et al, 1998). Research indicates that they have significantly higher rates of mental health difficulties than children in the general population and an especially high incidence of disruptive behaviours (McCann et al, 1996; Dimigen et al, 1999). Many of these vulnerable children are cared for in family placements with foster carers. Sinclair et al (2000) report that the two most common causes of placement breakdown are the child's difficult behaviour and the foster carer's lack of confidence to manage the child. As a result, carer training programmes have been developed and evaluated with varying results.