When carers end foster placements: exploring foster carers’ experience of adolescent foster placement breakdown

While foster carers experience the rewards and challenges of parenting vulnerable and complex adolescents, some of these placements break down. Compared to research into the impact of placement breakdown on looked after children, there are relatively limited reports on how foster carers are affected. The aim of the present study was to provide an exploratory account of foster carers’ lived experience of ending adolescent foster placements. Nine participants from seven foster families in the UK were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed within an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. Exploration of the foster carers’ experience identified four superordinate themes, two of which are relevant here: ‘emotional aftermath’ and ‘we’re only human’. Following a placement ending, foster carers identified different emotions including joy, relief and sadness. A grieving process was also identified, which involved coming to terms with loss and accepting the termination of the relationship. It is further suggested that foster carers are likely to experience shame and guilt as a consequence of placement breakdown.