Professionals’ beliefs about contact between birth parents and children placed permanently with alternative carers, and the influence these have on their recommendations, are described. A small qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to explore the meanings that professionals, including judges, guardians ad litem, psychologists and psychiatrists, bring to their assessments of whether contact should take place. Professionals were using similar ideas and terms in different ways. The authors recommend greater consistency and clarity in the use of concepts. Participants described contradictions within their own beliefs about whether contact was indicated or not, which led to dilemmas about their recommendations. Self-reflective practice in the assessment and recommendations made about contact is proposed to address these dilemmas.
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