recruiting foster carers - university of oxford · the motivation to foster research 10 fostering...
TRANSCRIPT
JudySebbaReesCentreforResearchinFostering
andEducation
Recruitingfostercarers
http://reescentre.education.ox.ac.uk/research/supporting-foster-carers/
Whatareyourpriorities?
• Recruitmentandretentionofcarers
• Effectivesupportforfostercarers
• Impactoffosteringoncarers’ ownchildren
• Addressingallegationsagainstfostercarers?
• Others?
Recruitmentoffostercarers:motivationtofoster
Recruitmentoffostercarers:Themotivationtofosterresearch
10fosteringprovidersaskedpeoplewhohadinquiredaboutfosteringiftheywerewillingtobeinvolvedinresearchproject.
Theaimsweretoidentify:• whatmotivatespeopletoinquireaboutfostering;• whatworkswellandwhatcouldbeimprovedintheprocessfrominitialinquirytoapproval;• whypeopledropoutofthisprocesswhentheydoso.
Recruitmentoffostercarers:Themotivationtofosterresearch
Whatwedid:• Interviewers(whoarefostercarers)interviewed102peopleaboutthefactorsthatledtotheminquiringaboutfostering;• 38followupinterviewsweredone8-12monthslater;• Followupinterviewsof17peoplewhowithdrew.
Motivationtofoster:mainfindings
Initialmotivationtobecomeafostercarer:• Priorexperienceofworkingwithchildren• ‘Knowing’anexistingfostercarer• Ownchildrengrownup,‘emptynest’• Localadvertising• Moneyrarelymentionedasaninitialmotivator
Motivationtofoster:mainfindings
Mainqualities:patience,tolerance,empathy,understanding,senseofhumour;Mainchallenges:finance,difficultbehaviour,providingaffectionappropriately.• Approvalraterangedfrom2-12%ofthosewhoinquired(onlysomeoftheseactuallyapplied),anofaverage5%;• Timetakenfromapplicationtoapprovalranged5-15months,withanaverageof9.5months.
What would help you make a decision?
Percentage
Talking to foster carers 49
Open evenings/Support groups 31
Information about payment 6
Amount of support from provider 4 General training/learning 6
Decision to go ahead already cleared
4
Talking to foster carers early on in the process is �perhaps too scary�
Findingsabouttheapplicationprocess• Asmallnumberofapplicants,mainlythosewhohadpreviouslyworkedwithchildren,viewedtheprocessaspositive– theyacceptedthelongtimeittooktoprocesstheirapplicationasnecessarytoensuresafety,plentyofsupportavailable;
• Mostapplicantscomplainedabout:Ødelays;Øpaperwork;Øintrusionintoprivacy.
• Manycomplaintsaboutinconsistentinformationabout:a)bedrooms; b)employment;
• Alsocomplainedthattoomuchfocusontheirrelationshipwiththeirpartnerratherthantheircapacitytoprovideforachild.
Recommendations• Involveexistingcarers inrecruitmentandongoing;
• Localadvertisingiseffective;
• Targetthosewithexperienceofworkingwithchildrenandwhoseownchildrenhavegrownup;
• Prepareapplicantsbetterbyexplainingtheprocessatthestartincludingtheneedforintrusivequestioninganddelays;
• Clarifyanymisunderstandingsrelatedtootheremploymentallowedandallocationtobedrooms.