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  • Exploring attachment and internal representations in looked-after children

    Using SSAP, this paper compared looked-after and community-based children. Looked-after children showed more disorganised, avoidant, and negative representations, and fewer secure ones.

    Authors: Hillman, S., Cross, R., Anderson, K.

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  • Assessing changes in the internal worlds of early-and late-adopted children using the Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP)

    This study used the SSAP to compare internal representations in three child groups. Maltreated late-adopted children showed more disorganised, avoidant, and negative representations than early-adopted and non-adopted peers. Over two years, secure representations increased, while avoidant and disorganised ones decreased in both adopted groups.

    Authors: Hillman, S., Hodges, J., Steele, M., et al.

  • Testing the structure of the BERRI using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis

    This paper validated the BERRI, a new mental health and psycho-adjustment measure, identifying an eight-factor structure with strong validity and consistency for Children Looked After.

    Authors: Viziteu, A., Costa Da Silva, L., Edbrooke-Childs, J., et al.

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  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of the type and prevalence of mental health disorders and symptoms among children living in residential care

    This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to establish the type and prevalence of mental health disorders and symptoms among children in residential care. The findings provide evidence that the prevalence of mental health disorders and symptoms are particularly high among children in residential care.

    Authors: Westlake, M.F., Hillman, S., Dykiert, D., et al.

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  • Risk vulnerability among children living in residential care in England: A study using multi-level models

    This study aimed to investigate the patterns of vulnerability to harm from external risk and risk to self among children living in residential care in England. Archival data collected routinely from residential care staff who complete the online BERRI Questionnaire about children in their care were used. Certain groups of children in residential care are vulnerable to different types of risk.

    Authors: Westlake, M.F., Dykiert, D., Hillman, S., et. al.

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  • What does it mean to be a 'foster parent'? Exploring Foster parent narratives using ideal-type analysis

    This study explores foster parent perceptions of their role and its impact on child outcomes, identifying three types of foster parents: emotional, ambiguous, and professional.

    Authors: Dalgaard, N. T., Reich, J.,M., Midgley, N. et al.

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  • The Reflective Fostering Programme: A Dialogue Between Clinical Practice and Research

    This discussion, presented at the 2023 International Congress on Mentalization-Based Treatments, highlights the integration of clinical practice and research in the Reflective Fostering Programme through a mentalizing conversation.

    Authors: Redfern, S., Midlgey, N.

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  • The lived experience of co-production: Reflective accounts from the InCLUDE project

    This paper documents the practicalities, learnings and challenges of co-producing a research project, drawing on personal diaries kept by four researchers who co-produced the InCLUDE project.

    Authors: Izzidien, S., & Stemp, R., Akram, S., et al.

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  • The impact of out-of-home care on brain development: a brief review of the neuroscientific evidence informing our understanding of children’s attachment outcomes

    Brief review of the neuroscientific findings that illuminate whether and how adverse early caregiving experiences impact on brain development and poor socioemotional outcomes in children in care, and how such evidence informs our understanding of attachment outcomes in this population.

    Authors: Oliveira, P

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