The Attachment Style Interview (ASI): a support-based adult assessment tool for adoption and fostering practice

Attachment theory is becoming increasingly influential across health and social care fields in providing explanations of individuals' capacities to achieve effective support, close partner relationships and good parenting of their own and others' offspring. Adoption and fostering services were among the first to use attachment theory to inform evidence-based practice. While it has been used for the assessment of parenting capacity and attachment insecurity in children, there has been little parallel development of standardised assessments for carers, especially in terms of partner relationship, close support figures and ability to access support. This is a critical element in determining suitability for adoption and fostering carer roles and post-placement support. The Attachment Style Interview (ASI — Bifulco et al, 2002a,b) provides such a tool and concurs with requirements identified for carers in DfES Practice Guidance (Department for Education and Skills, 2006). Antonia Bifulco, Catherine Jacobs, Amanda Bunn, Geraldine Thomas and Karen Irving explain the research background to the ASI and describe its growing use in the adoption and fostering assessment process. They also discuss the importance of using evidence-based and standardised assessment tools to maximise effective practice.