Rostill-Brookes Helen, Larkin Michael, Toms Amy, Churchman Clare
Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, The University of Birmingham, Dudley & Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;16(1):103-27. doi: 10.1177/1359104509352894. Epub 2010 Jun 10.
Multiple placement transitions have been associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes for children growing up in local authority care. However, although there is an expanding literature examining the risk and protective factors connected with placement breakdown, very few studies have explored the quality of the move experience for those most closely involved with it. Our study considered how young people, foster carers and social workers made sense of unplanned placements' endings. Bringing together the lived experiences of these key stakeholders in the placement system added a novel dimension to existing research knowledge. What emerged from our analysis was evidence of a pervasive and shared emotional experience; all of the participants were affected by the breakdown irrespective of age, experience, or professional role. However, despite many commonalities, there was also a strong sense of fragmentation between the groups, which was characterised by discourses of mistrust and miscommunication. This meant that emotional reactions to the breakdown were often suppressed or dismissed, resentments built-up and attempts to find a solution were thwarted by silence or angry recrimination. These findings raise real challenges for practice and policy development. In particular, they stress the importance of shared and meaningful dialogue between all key stakeholders within the social care system, the need for more effective and timely support when placements are in crisis and opportunities for those most closely involved with the placement breakdown to process the emotional experience.
对于在地方政府照料下成长的儿童而言，多次安置转换与较差的心理社会结果相关联。然而，尽管有越来越多的文献研究与安置失败相关的风险和保护因素，但很少有研究探讨那些与此密切相关的人在安置变动过程中的体验质量。我们的研究考虑了年轻人、寄养家庭照料者和社会工作者如何理解意外安置的结束。将安置系统中这些关键利益相关者的生活经历汇集在一起，为现有的研究知识增添了一个新的维度。我们的分析结果显示出一种普遍且共有的情感体验；所有参与者都受到了安置失败的影响，无论其年龄、经验或职业角色如何。然而，尽管存在许多共性，但各群体之间也存在强烈的分裂感，其特征是不信任和沟通不畅的话语。这意味着对安置失败的情绪反应往往被压抑或忽视，怨恨不断累积，寻找解决方案的尝试也因沉默或愤怒的指责而受挫。这些发现给实践和政策制定带来了切实的挑战。特别是，它们强调了社会护理系统内所有关键利益相关者之间进行共享且有意义对话的重要性，在安置处于危机时提供更有效和及时支持的必要性，以及为那些与安置失败密切相关的人提供处理情感体验的机会。
