Empowering foster carers to support sleep in children in care

Sleep problems are common in children and young people and are associated with many adverse effects on psychological and physical functioning (for the child and their carers). Children in care (CiC) (84,000 in England in 2024) have increased risk for sleep disturbance for many reasons. Our preliminary work has found that UK foster carers (FCs) commonly encounter sleep difficulties in CiC and that they need support to manage these issues as night-time difficulties are a source of stress and a potential cause of placement breakdown.

Unfortunately, FCs report numerous barriers to getting the sleep-related help they need, including challenges seeking and accessing appropriate support and also practical difficulties with implementing advice they do receive. Although there are evidenced ways to manage children’s sleep difficulties, the particular requirements of this population need to be understood so that resources and advice can be tailored for this group of children and their carers.