Through the eyes of the care providers : an exploration of how the supervised access visits impact the relationship between children in residential care and their parents

Abstract

This study examines the impact of supervised contact on the relationship between minors in residential care and their families, focusing on the residential Social Workers' perspectives. With a primary objective to contribute towards a gap in current literature, this research delves into the nuanced perspectives and experiences of residential social workers working with minors in care. Using a qualitative approach, a cross-sectional study, semi-structured interviews and a reflexive thematic analysis, data was gathered from interviews with six experienced residential social workers who worked in a residential care facility for children. The analysis reveals four main themes, the supervised contact between minors and their families, the impact of the supervised contact, the collaborations and the minor at the centre of the system. The study has thus found that the creation of supportive environments for supervised visits is needed to provide an appropriate environment for the enhancement of the relationship between the minors in care and their parents. Furthermore, it has been found that balancing the child's best interests and parental rights is often challenging, and that the parents' voices are often given more weight. Additionally, the study prompts the need to approach supervised contact through systems theory (Payne, 2020), emphasising the interconnectedness of minors and their parents and the need to professionalise the supervisor role to nurture their relationship.