Recruiting carers for children in substitute care: The challenge of program revision

Lawrence, Ruth M.

doi:10.1080/03124079408411121

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…All health boards indicated to the Working Group on Foster Care (Department of Health and Children, 2001) that they were experiencing a shortage of carers and that retention of carers was also an issue (p. 59). Lawrence (1994) states that, since the 1960s, the foster care literature has noted a shortage of foster carers, and that recruitment is time consuming and costly with few carers recruited compared with the amount of time invested in recruiting them (p. 38).…”

Section: Problems In Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 98%

“We need to talk”: a study of working relationships between field social workers and fostering link social workers in Northern Ireland

Sheldon

2004

Child Care in Practice

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Foster care in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland has been in crisis throughout the past decade. This is most clearly demonstrated in the shortage of placements for children. The difficulty in recruiting new carers has taken a new significance for most agencies that struggle with more referrals than placements. As it becomes more difficult to recruit new carers, it becomes essential to retain existing carers.This research has focused on the working relationships between field workers and link workers and the role these relationships play in supporting carers. Previous research by the author (Sheldon, 2002) has indicated that carers wish to be treated with respect and as partners in a process of caring for children. It follows, therefore, that when social workers fail to work in this way carers become dissatisfied and this may lead to them ceasing to foster.The study was carried out via a postal questionnaire to all 80 field and link social workers within South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust, and this was followed by a series of 13 face-to-face interviews, nine with field workers and four with link workers. The results of the research have indicated a mixed picture of practice within the Trust. Foster carers are unanimously held in high regard by social workers and the task they fulfil is highly valued. There are many examples of successful working practices between field and link workers, but there are also examples of little or no communication. Many field workers have little idea of the problems facing fostering at the moment and this can be frustrating for their link work colleagues. New social workers have little or no John Sheldon is Acting Senior Social Worker in the Community Placement Scheme, Belfast. Correspondence to: John Sheldon, 195, Child Care in Practice 21 preparation for working with carers and there is confusion as to the nature of the working relationship with them. IntroductionSouth and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust (SEBT) covers an area of Belfast with a population of 201,000, stretching from Dundonald in the east to Finaghy in the south of the city.The rationale for this project came as a result of two previous years' work centring on the recruitment and retention of foster carers. The writer had researched why carers cease to foster and the effect of "word of mouth" in recruiting carers. In both studies foster carers stated that they felt dissatisfied and considered ceasing to foster when they did not feel valued and respected by social workers, particularly field workers.The quality of the working relationship between the link and field workers and carers is vital for the success/outcomes of children placed in foster care. This is well documented in the literature:Foster carers that are satisfied with the job of fostering are committed to it and view social workers as a vital source of support. Promoting good relationships between social workers and foster carers is therefore an important element in any strategy that aims to retain good foster carer...

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Section: Problems In Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 98%

“We need to talk”: a study of working relationships between field social workers and fostering link social workers in Northern Ireland

Sheldon

2004

Child Care in Practice

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“…In this context, it would be necessary to review the recruitment campaigns. Indeed, in the Wallonia‐Brussels Federation, they use mass media, and while these campaigns are very useful to inform the general public about the role of foster care, they do not seem to be the most efficient way to attract new foster carers (Delfabbro et al, 2008; Lawrence, 1994; Moore et al, 1988; Smith & Gutheil, 1988). The most effective methods for recruiting foster families are word‐of‐mouth from foster families who communicate the benefits (including enjoyment and satisfaction) they receive from fostering a child (Martin et al, 1992).…”

Section: Conclusion and Implications For Social Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are children in foster care in better psychological health than children in institutions? What factors influence the outcome?

Chartier

Blavier

2022

Child & Family Social Work

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The aim of this study was to compare the psychological health of children in foster care with that of children in institutional care. Social workers were asked to assess the psychological health of the children as well as several other criteria on the basis of an analysis grid. Our sample consisted of 568 children placed in foster care and 661 children placed in institutions. Our results show that children in care who lived longer with their birth parents have a lower psychological health. Furthermore, the psychological health of children in residential care is lower than children placed in foster families. As children in institution are placed later than children in foster families, this may partially explain the lower psychological health of children in residential care. As a result, children in residential care have experienced more abuse and neglect and witnessed more domestic violence than children in foster care. In addition, children in residential care have more poor-quality contacts with their birth parents than children in foster family. These contacts negatively influence their psychological health. Finally, the factor that most influences the psychological health of children in care is the quality of the relationship with the people who care for them on a daily basis. Again, children placed in foster families have better-quality relationships with their foster families than children placed in institutions.

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“…Broad-based media recruitment strategies Lawrence (1994) conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of a multi-media foster carer recruitment campaign. The campaign comprised newspaper advertising and other outlets such as flyers, radio, agency newsletters, the backs of taxis, public speaking and information stalls for Children's Week.…”

Section: Recruitment Of Indigenous Carers Is Both Aided and Hindered mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an evaluation of a foster carer media recruitment campaign, Lawrence (1994) reported that 126 of the 331 inquiries received during the study period were not associated with the campaign. For instance, inquiries came from individuals who were connected with the agency, heard about the agency through word-of-mouth, or were referred to the agency by another organisation.…”

Section: Localised Recruitment Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Foster Families

2014

The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia

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The reduction of residential care options in Australia has led to home-based (foster and kinship) care being the primary form of care for children in out-of-home care in Australian jurisdictions (Barber & Delfabbro, 2004). The increasing numbers of children entering and re-entering care and the increasingly complex needs of a greater proportion of children entering care have significantly changed the role of and need for fostering in Australia (Layton, 2003). As a result, the recruitment, retention, assessment, training and support of foster carers are now central issues in the field of out-of-home care. In the best interests of children and carers, and in order to do no harm to foster families, it is important to provide carers with the training and support they need to assist in preventing placement breakdown and retaining foster carers.

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Recruiting carers for children in substitute care: The challenge of program revision

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

“We need to talk”: a study of working relationships between field social workers and fostering link social workers in Northern Ireland

“We need to talk”: a study of working relationships between field social workers and fostering link social workers in Northern Ireland

Are children in foster care in better psychological health than children in institutions? What factors influence the outcome?

Foster Families

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