Published Research

“Evaluating the Impact of BUSS LEAPlets^® Early Intervention Groupwork on Children who have Experienced Developmental Trauma, their Foster Carers and Social Workers”

Published September 2026

Research project in collaboration with the Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA), the School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin and Technical University of Shannon (TUS), funded by the ‘What Works’ research grant.

Researchers Dr. Leigh-Ann Sweeney and Dr. Lisa Moran conducted an evaluation of how the LEAPlets^® programme worked for children in foster care in Ireland and their carers.

The study included interviews with foster carers, social workers and LEAPlets^® group facilitators. Overall, the findings showed:

• Improvements in children’s movement, balance, and coordination, helping them to feel more calm and build safe relationships.
• Carers noticed that children became more settled during the programme – and more willing to join in at home, school, and with friends.
• LEAPlets^® supported carers to better understand children’s behaviour linked to early trauma.
• Carers felt more confident and skilled through hands-on and supportive sessions.
• Carers valued meeting other carers and sharing experiences.