‘Community of care’ – Contributions to sustainable care within an arrangement combining residential and foster care

This article addresses what could contribute to sustainable care in a child welfare context, drawing on a qualitative case study of a Norwegian long-term care arrangement that combines residential care and specialised foster care. The analysis illuminates how a variety of activities contribute to flexible and reliable shared care systems that enable carers to cope with demanding care in daily life and over time. The concept of a ‘community of care’ is suggested to comprehend the various features that interconnect and contribute to sustainable care. This concept aims to transcend individualised and decontextualised conceptions of care and dichotomised categorisations, like residential care and foster care. A ‘community of care’ is relevant for research addressing how to ensure sustainability in child welfare and as a thinking tool for practitioners.