in Time and in Tune'--the Fostering Attachments Group: Capturing Sustained Change in both Caregiver and Child (Report‪)‬

The Fostering Attachments Group (Golding, 2006) is a group intervention combining social learning theory and attachment theory to inform the parenting of looked after children who present a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. Evaluations to date have consistently found high rates of satisfaction from participants and a greater understanding of the child's needs, but only limited impact on the child's behaviour. Identifying the mechanisms of change in these well-received groups, therefore, seems important. Ben Gurney-Smith, Charlotte Granger, Anna Randle and Jenny Fletcher report on a novel evaluation of this group using, for the first time, a mixed group of foster carers and adoptive parents, with measures repeated at pre-, post- and three-month follow-up, and consistent with both theoretical models. The group was rated highly for satisfaction and sustained improvements were found in the caregiver's understanding and the perceived difficulties of the child. Significant positive and sustained changes were found in specific behavioural difficulties named by the caregiver, the child's hyperactivity and in the caregiver's mind-mindedness when they perceived a break in the relationship with their child. The study supports the use of measures capturing change over time in both the child and caregiver, which are consistent with both theoretical approaches used within the group. Introduction