The Lives of Foster Carers : Private Sacrifices, Public Restrictions

The Lives of Foster Carers analyzes the contradictions, conflicts, and ambiguities experienced by foster carers arising from the inter-penetrations of public bureaucracy and private family life. Topics covered include: social policy pertinent to childcare the history of foster care service available literature on the experience of foster carers public versus private domains in foster care motivations and roles of foster carers how foster carers perceive themselves and their foster children. Based on a wide range of literature and in-depth interviews with forty-six foster carers, this book provides a valuable insight into the concerns, processes and experiences of foster carers in the UK. Jargon free and accessible, it will appeal to foster carers, practitioners, students and academics in social care, youth work and childcare as well as policy makers in children’s services. There Are Approximately 37,000 Foster Families Currently Living In The Uk, Yet While There Has Been A Substantial Amount Of Social Research About Fostered Children, Little Is Known About The Adults Who Look After Them. By Focusing On The Carer, Not The Child Or The Social Worker, The Lives Of Foster Carers Offers The Reader A New Perspective On Foster Care. It Explores The Contradictions, Conflicts And Ambiguities Faced By Foster Carers Every Day And Looks At How Public Bureaucracy And Private Family Life Intertwine. The Issues It Discusses Include: · A History Of The Foster Care Service · Professionalizing Foster Care And The Shift Away From Foster Parenting · Public And Private Domains In Foster Care · Motivations And Roles Of Foster Carers · How Foster Carers Perceive Themselves And Their Foster Children. Based On A Wide Range Of Literature And In-depth Interviews With 46 Foster Carers, This Book Provides Valuable Insight Into The Concerns, Processes And Experiences Of Foster Carers. Jargon Free And Accessible, It Will Appeal To Foster Carers, Practitioners, Students And Academics In Social Care, Youth Work And Childcare As Well As Policy Makers In Children's Services. Introduction -- What Do We Know About Foster Carers? : The Applied Social Research -- Towards A Theorising Of Foster Care -- Dealing With Dilemmas : Private And Personal -- How Foster Carers Position Themselves -- Having A Presence Through Children -- Conclusion -- Appendix A : Pen Pictures Of The Foster Carers -- Appendix B : Vignettes. Linda Nutt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [124]-133) And Index.

There are approximately 37,000 foster families currently living in the UK, yet while there has been a substantial amount of social research about fostered children, little is known about the adults who look after them. By focusing on the carer, not the child or the social worker, The Lives of Foster Carers offers the reader a new perspective on foster care. It explores the contradictions, conflicts and ambiguities faced by foster carers every day and looks at how public bureaucracy and private family life intertwine. The issues it discusses include:
· a history of the foster care service
· professionalizing foster care and the shift away from foster parenting
· public and private domains in foster care
· motivations and roles of foster carers
· how foster carers perceive themselves and their foster children Based on a wide range of literature and in-depth interviews with 46 foster carers, this book provides valuable insight into the concerns, processes and experiences of foster carers. Jargon free and accessible, it will appeal to foster carers, practitioners, students and academics in social care, youth work and childcare as well as policy makers in children's services.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1. What do we know about foster carers?: The applied social research......Page 12 2. Towards a theorising of foster care......Page 25 3. Dealing with dilemmas: private and personal......Page 40 4. How foster carers position themselves......Page 57 5. Having a presence through children......Page 73 6. Conclusion......Page 91 Appendix A: Pen pictures of the foster carers......Page 104 Appendix B: Vignettes......Page 108 Notes......Page 111 Bibliography......Page 114 Index......Page 122