Children’s attachment: attachment in children and young people who are adopted from care, in care or at high risk of going into care

Screening assessment tools:- Develop reliable and valid screening assessment tools for attachment and sensitivity that can be made available and used in routine health, social care and education settings.

Attachment-focused interventions:- This research recommendation is composed of 2 parts.
Develop attachment-focused interventions to treat attachment difficulties in children aged over 5 years and young people who have been adopted or are in the care system.
Develop attachment-based interventions to promote secure attachment in children and young people who have been, or are at risk of being, maltreated.

Evaluation of extensively used interventions:- Evaluate currently unevaluated but extensively used interventions for attachment difficulties.

Interventions in a school setting:- Assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of an attachment-based intervention delivered in a school setting for children and young people on the edge of care, in the care system or adopted.

Relationship between attachment difficulties and complex trauma:- This research recommendation is composed of 2 parts:
Assess the prevalence of attachment difficulties (including attachment disorders), complex trauma and the combination of both in children and young people in the care system and on the edge of care.
Investigate the effect of various factors, such as multiple placements, on the likelihood of having attachment difficulties, complex trauma or both.