Allegations of abuse in care: The experiences of South Australian foster carers

While it is vital that children are protected from abuse when placed in foster care, foster carers may also be subject to abuse allegations that are unfounded or unsubstantiated. Such allegations can have a significant impact on their wellbeing. Reporting on interviews with 28 foster carers, this paper explores how South Australian foster carers experience the care concern process. The care concern process is initiated when an allegation of abuse in care is raised and typically results in an investigation that is non-judicial. Thematic analysis of the interview data resulted in the development of four themes that span the initial shock of receiving a care concern, a lack of due process during investigations, relative silence following an investigation and a changed sense of self as a result. The paper concludes by considering other ways to engage foster carers in conversations that mitigate harm to all parties.