Presenters:
Tara Seaward – Manager.
Suranga Amaratunga – Therapeutic Advisor.
Abstract:
This presentation focuses on exploring and understanding psychosocial processes that facilitate the Family Group Home’s (FGH) carers to bounce back from their adverse work experiences, while increasing their motivation to remain as care-givers. Recruitment and retention of carers has been identified as one of the key issues in the outof-home care sector in providing high quality services for children. However some carers remain as care-givers despite challenging personal and professional circumstances. Understanding what factors help the carers to be resilient may decrease the attrition rate and increase positive outcomes for children in care.
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 FGH primary and respite carers who have been in the organisation over a period of one year. The interviews were recorded and used for initial and comparative data analysis. Based on the constructivist grounded theory
approach, we coded and categorised this data to examine factors / processes contributing to their resilience to remain as care-givers.
A comprehensive literature review was conducted throughout the assessment process. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently. Prior to completing the final process of interpretation of data and categories, feedback was sought from all participants on the initial findings.
A deeper exploration into the perspectives of FGH carers on the factors that assisted them to remain in their professions and maintain their personal wellbeing will provide additional information to guide the development of effective policies and practices within the out-of-home care sector.
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