Stability in statutory kinship care: A grounded theory study of placement stability in Australia

This constructivist grounded theory study explored the concept of placement stability from the perspective of statutory kinship carers who self-identified as providing a stable kinship placement in Queensland, Australia. Twenty statutory kinship carers participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. The study developed a substantive grounded theory of how Kinship Carers perceive a stable statutory kinship care placement and found six social processes that underpinned how the kinship carer felt, thought and acted. The core category was feeling connected. The five non-core categories were seeing the need, being constant, empathising with, championing for, and being aware and accepting of the kinship context. The study found no differences between familial and non-familial kinship carers perception of stability. It found that some of the categories were influenced when the kinship carer family identified as Australian Aboriginal or a preplacement relationship existed between the kinship carer and the child. The substantive theory developed by this study was applied to social worker practice in out-of-home care.

Automated summary

This study explores the perception of statutory kinship carers in Queensland, Australia regarding placement stability and develops a substantive grounded theory. It identifies six social processes that underpin their feelings, thoughts, and actions.