The knowledge of caring: revisiting the need for knowledge support of carers

Abstract

A B S T R AC TFoster carers' knowledge of caring for abused and neglected children is a largely under-researched area. We know very little about the nature of carers' knowledge in relation to caring for children who have been abused or neglected. This paper reports on an exploratory study which examined the knowledge of caring. Qualitative data were analysed based on in-depth interviews with 10 foster carers in Queensland, Australia. A range of knowledge was identified showing an interaction of both personalized and formal understandings in the caring response. Given the breadth of knowledge recognized from the analysis, this paper presents one dimension of their knowing: theory and abuse-indicated understandings. Participants' responses in these areas were at times sound, but many struggled to provide convincing and well-formed explanations of topics, such as attachment, harm and child development which may suggest that their understandings are not what they could be. Although further research is needed on a larger scale, this study does highlight the necessity to re-examine processes and strategies for carer knowledge support, so as to strengthen their understanding of these issues.

A controlled trial of implementing a complex mental health intervention for carers of vulnerable young people living in out-of-home care: the ripple project

“…There are calls for greater attention to the training and support needs of carers, their wellbeing and retention to caring [36, 37]. Many carers report high levels of stress and poor coping [36–38].…”

“…Many carers report high levels of stress and poor coping [36–38]. Irrespective of their capacity to identify mental ill-health, many do not gain access to mental health care for the young person [39, 40].…”

Proactive responses to offensive behaviours in out-of-home care

“…In the last decade, there has been a significant rise in the rate of children and young people placed in out-of-home care in Australia (AIHW 2007). There are many and varied reasons why children and young people are placed in out-of-home care; however, the majority of individuals are placed in care as a result of significant abuse and neglect (Osmond, Scott & Clark 2008). As a result of such abuse and neglect, many children and young people in out-of-home care experience significant trauma and associated mental health problems that can impact upon their psychological and emotional functioning (Larmar & Clark 2009;Sawyer, Carbone, Searle & Robinson 2007;Tarren-Sweeney & Hazel 2006).…”

“…Such stresses, as well as a range of factors that place the individual at greater risk of ongoing social and behavioural difficulties (e.g. insecure attachment, an unsafe home environment, poor social skills development), may negatively impact upon the child or young person's behaviour (AIHW 2006;Osmond, Scott & Clark 2008).…”

Proactive responses to aggressive behaviours in out-of-home care

“…With the rise in children and young people entering out-of-home care contexts in Australia (AIHW 2006), the need for greater support to carers and other health professionals is paramount (Butcher 2004;Carter 2002) (for a further elaboration of the Australian context, see Larmar & Clark 2009a). The needs of children and adolescents in the welfare system are varying, but many present with a range of complex issues that are influenced by histories of trauma, abuse and neglect (Osmond, Scott & Clark 2008). More recent studies have reported high incidences of drug and alcohol abuse (Ainsworth & Summers 2001), domestic violence (Kohl, Edleson, English & Barth 2005), mental illness (Phillips 2009), poverty and its associated effects (Thomson 2003) and poor attachment (AIHW 2006) in families of children and young people entering out-of-home care.…”