Security and permanence in longterm foster care: family relationships and professional systems

Beek, Mary (2014) Security and permanence in longterm foster care: family relationships and professional systems. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

This is a submission for the degree of PhD by Publication. The submission presents five linked research studies concerned with long-term foster care, and their associated
publications. There is a three-part commentary on the research and publications. Part 1 of the commentary reviews the literature relevant to the research and publications. Firstly, the policy background to the studies is outlined. Then, the literature concerned with the
family processes and outcomes of long-term foster care is considered. Placement stability and developmental outcomes are included, and also the risk and protective
factors that contribute to these processes and outcomes. Literature concerning foster and birth family membership is then highlighted, and also that which addresses the
professionalisation of foster care, and the implications of this for long-term foster care. This is followed by a summary of some relevant attachment based research and, finally, there is reference to the literature concerning professional systems associated with longterm
foster care in England and Wales.
Part 2 of the commentary provides an outline of each of the research studies undertaken and summarises their aims, methods, findings and methodological issues. The studies spanned a period of fifteen years, between 1997 and 2011. They explored the experiences and meanings of building a family life within the context of foster care
systems in England and Wales. These two closely interwoven discourses - the relationships that are formed in long-term foster families and the professional systems
that surround them - were of central importance in the body of work and form the core of this submission.
Part 3 of the commentary covers the contribution that the research and publications have made to knowledge in the field of long-term foster care. Firstly, from the
exploration of family processes in long-term foster care, key aspects of caregiving that appear to create a sense of security and permanence for long-term foster children are
identified. These are: secure base caregiving, bonding and commitment, flexible role identities and managing the child’s dual family membership. Each of these aspects of
caregiving, as illuminated by the research and publications, is explored in turn. Secondly, there is a summary of the contribution that the body of work has made to identifying
iii the extent of regulation and the nature of practice that is required to safeguard longterm foster children, whilst at the same time promoting their sense of security and
permanence in their foster families. The commentary concludes with an overview of the implications of the research and publications for social work practice and some suggestions for further research.
At Appendix A is a statement from Professor Gillian Schofield, lead investigator of one of the studies, co-investigator of two of the studies, and lead author of ten of the publications. Appendix B contains a collection of the published works (articles and a book chapter) that represent the studies. The books and a research report are presented separately.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Publication
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
Depositing User:	Users 7377 not found.
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2014 10:41
Last Modified:	29 Jul 2014 10:41
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/49839
DOI:

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