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Reducing Risks for Teenagers in Foster Care
Background
TSA has received a grant from the Big Lottery Fund for a three-year project that will include research and the production of training materials, practice guidelines and other resources, to help reduce the risks for young people in foster care. The aim of the project is to bring about long-term improvements in the quality of life of young people aged 13-16 years in foster care by improving the way foster families manage risky behaviour to strike a balance between protecting young people and enabling them to take the risks that are part of teenage development.
The project will be carried out in two stages. Firstly, research will explore how foster carers manage the behaviours of teenagers in their care, taking into consideration the involvement and experiences of the young people themselves, parents and social workers. The research will be followed by the development, piloting and dissemination of training materials, practice guidelines and resources for young people and foster carers, on managing and supervising risky behaviour.
Research
The research is being carried out within the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, within selected local authorities at three stages.
Stage 1: Focus groups with young people in foster care, foster carers, social workers, and parents of young people in foster care, to provide contextual information.
Stage 2: Individual interviews with young people in foster care, foster carers, social workers, and parents of young people in foster care, to explore how behaviours are managed and supervised within the foster home.
Stage 3: Individual diaries to be completed by all the young people and foster carers over a seven-day period, to explore the realities of managing young peoples' behaviours.
Training Materials
There are no training materials in the UK on managing risk for foster carers looking after teenagers. This project aims to develop, pilot and disseminate training materials, practice guidelines and resources for young people and foster carers on managing risky behaviour both inside and outside of the foster home. The training materials will aim to improve and develop skills in relation to the aspect of foster care and in doing so to develop more positive relationships between young people, foster carers and social workers.
Project staff
Dr Stephanie Stace is the Research Officer on the project. Kevin Lowe is the project manager. Morna Lane provides administrative support.