By David Shemmings
Who is this research briefing for?
This research briefing is aimed at practitioners who work with children and their parents or carers, including social workers, family support workers, foster carers, educational welfare officers, teachers, after-school club and pupil referral unit staff, youth workers, health visitors and children’s centre staff. It is particularly relevant to those interested in child protection. Its aim is to:
- Identify a range of attachment behaviours in children and caregivers, highlighting the findings from research of particular significance for practitioners
- Offer information and links about observing or assessing attachment in children and caregivers - with particular focus on identifying signs of worrying attachment behaviours that may require trained assessments
- and summarise evidence of effective interventions.
The briefing looks in turn at:
- what attachment is and why it is important to practitioners
- research on attachment behaviours and prevalence – particularly where it may indicate maltreatment
- the role of attachment in outcomes
- how attachment can be assessed and some of the most relevant techniques
- and what research tells us about attachment-based interventions, focusing on what practitioners can do.
Throughout the briefing are 
symbols, which offer more information or links about particular research studies or themes.
The 
symbols offers exercises you may want to try to quiz yourself or to use in your work.
for practice are summarised at the end of each section or page.
Accompanying reference tool
A reference chart that summarises key signs or behaviours associated with the attachment patterns mentioned in this briefing is available in print or as a pdf here.
