Meaningful relationships in foster care: an interpretive inquiry of supervising social workers within three independent fostering providers

Background: In England, nearly half (45%) of all children and young people in mainstream foster carer are in care provided by independent foster care providers (IFPs) (Department for Education, 2022). Yet, little is known about the relationships held between children and young people and their foster carers, nor the extent of the support they receive from their IFP, and its impact on their relationships. Focusing on the role of supervising social workers (SSWs) within three English-based IFPs, this study asks the question: ‘What are the essential factors and interpersonal qualities SSWs need to assist children and their foster carers in building and maintaining a meaningful relationship?’

Methodology: This study has involved interpretive qualitative semi-structured interviews with three groups of four participants; a young person over the age of 16, their foster carer(s), their allocated SSW and their social work manager from three different IFPs, making a total of 13 participants. In each context, close attention is focused on the participants' voices and their own constructions of the relationship between the young people and their foster carers and the impact that the SSW may have had on their relationships.

Findings: The study was not about good versus bad social work but how the SSWs position themselves and engage with the young people and their foster carers. The study’s rich findings provide a rare view into the way SSWs within three IFPs have improved relationship outcomes for young people and their foster carers through their statutory role, personal involvement and interpersonal skills, thereby demonstrating that SSWs are not working from the sideline.

Conclusions: This explorative study adds to what is currently known about the importance of attachment for children looked after and their foster carers, as well as relationship-based social work. Furthermore, it highlights the advantages of SSWs spending more time with the children being cared for by the foster carers they supervise and support. This goes beyond customary practice for SSWs in England.