Initial validation of an observational coding system to assess child-professional caregiver relationship quality in residential care children aged 6–12

• Professional caregivers serve both a secure base for exploration and a safe haven for comfort. • Maltreatment/placement chronicity links to more child disrupted engagement. • Higher caregiver conflict resolution support, but not sensitivity, links to less child disrupted engagement. • Boys display more disrupted engagement with professional caregivers. • Observing child-caregiver interaction with SORCE may inform residential care practice. Relationships between children aged 6 to 12 and professional caregivers in residential care remains understudied. Yet, supportive relationships with professional caregivers can promote child emotional regulation and behavioral rehabilitation. This study conducted an initial validation of the System for Observing child-caretaker Relationship and Communication Exchanges (SORCE), a coding system developed to assess the quality of child-professional caregiver relationships in residential care. The sample included 76 children (aged 6–12, placed for an average of three years) and their professional caregivers. Child-professional caregiver dyads participated in a filmed conflict-resolution task and completed self-report measures of relationship quality. Data on maltreatment history, placement history, and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained from child protective services files. Results showed adequate-to-excellent psychometric properties and revealed three dimensions of relationship quality: 1) Caregiver Conflict Resolution Support, 2) Caregiver Sensitive Involvement, and 3) Child Disrupted Engagement. More chronic maltreatment, a higher number of placements, lower levels of caregivers’ conflict resolution support (but not sensitive involvement), and being a boy were all associated with more child disrupted engagement. The SORCE provides a structured observational approach to assessing child-professional caregiver relationship quality in residential care, which may inform practice. Findings highlight the dual, parent-like role of professional caregivers, serving as both a secure base for exploration and a safe haven for comfort. Findings also underscore the impact of early adversity and the potential effect of caregiver’s conflict resolution support on children’s engagement within the relationship