Making sense of Complexity: Using Thematic Analysis to understand the role of the Foster Carer

Looking after young people who are unable to live within their own families is a difficult and demanding task. Complexities increase when those young people are understood to present risks of sexual harm to others. This chapter describes a small-scale study draws on accounts of such placements from foster carers and young people themselves to explore and make sense of these complexities. A conceptual framework describing the role of the carer is developed from an analysis of data obtained suggesting that carers seek to protect young people and others by either enabling or constraining young people to achieve developmental tasks.