Still the Poor Relations
Perspectives on Valuing and Listening to Foster Carers
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11941865 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Derek Kirton (Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Kent, Canterbury, corresponding author), Jennifer Beecham (0000-0001-5147-3383, Social Policy, Personal Social Services Research Unit at the same university), Kate Ogilvie (Bath and North East Somerset Council, Social and Housing Services) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 6-17 |
| Publication date | 2007-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Adoption & Fostering (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0308-5759 • E-ISSN: 1740-469X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/030857590703100303 |
| OpenAlex | W2041945538 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 13 |
| References cited | 21 |
There has long been debate regarding the treatment and status of foster carers, but this has gained added significance in the context of moves towards professionalisation and recognition of carers as part of the children's workforce. While research studies have often touched upon the extent to which foster carers feel valued, appreciated or members of a team, less attention has been given to the perspectives of social workers and managers. Drawing on quantitative survey data and qualitative material from focus groups and interviews, Derek Kirton, Jennifer Beecham and Kate Ogilvie explore from the different perspectives of supervising social workers, service managers and foster carers, the extent to which the latter are valued, listened to or regarded as ‘colleagues' by social work professionals and agencies. Key findings include that carers’ sense of being valued may be linked to factors such as age, experience, health and number of placements provided. Discussion of the status of foster carers revealed not only wide variation in practice but also a complex set of sentiments and significant divisions among social work professionals on the question of whether carers should be regarded as ‘colleagues’
Active listening · Context (archaeology · Focus group · Health care · Health professionals · Medical education · Political science · Psychotherapist · Public relations · Qualitative research · Set (abstract data type · Social science · Sociology · Workforce · Child Welfare and Adoption · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Social Work
Acolhimento Familiar em Portugal e Espanha
Perceptions of Long-Term Female Foster-Carers
The Meaning of Shared Parenthood in Long‐Term Foster Care
Promoting Foster Carer Strengths
Foster caring as ‘professional parenting’
AdoptUsKids national photolisting service
Qualitative Studies of Foster Carer Experiences in Providing Out of Home Care for Children
Supporting the Ordinary Family
Dual parent-professional role
Finding a Suitable Fostering Agency
Disenfranchised grief
Foster parents between voluntarism and professionalisation
Establishing a Good Relationship with Foster Parents after Issues with Their Performance
Power in Caring Professions
Social Policy
Focus Groups in Social Research
Foster Care
Sharing the care
Fostering Adolescents
How Foster Parents Experience Social Work with Particular Reference to Placement Endings
Foster Care in Context
The Implications of Recent Child Care Research Findings for Foster Care
The Role of Social Workers in Supporting and Developing the Work of Foster Carers
Fostering in Wales the All Wales Review
The Aims and Principles of Independent Fostering Agencies
Social Work and the Education of Children in Foster Care
How Foster Carers View Contact
Skills Protect’
New developments in foster care and adoption
Gaining Satisfaction? An Exploration of Foster-Carers' Attitudes to Payment
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,72 |
| Citation span | 2008 - 2025 (18) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 12 |