Everyday Parenting with Care Experience
This study explores the perspectives of parents bound by the common thread of a care background but who are otherwise "ordinary" parents.
About the study
My daughter never knew care. None of my grandkids will either. I am altogether ordinary and unremarkable – just like the overwhelming majority of care experienced people.
Ian Dickson
OFSTED inspector, father, grandad, care leaver
We are keen to collect the voices of those, like Ian, who go on to successfully parent but are usually missing from the statistics that are used to describe care leaver "outcomes".
Our project seeks to broaden the debate around outcomes for people with care experience by exploring the perspectives of parents who go on to live "ordinary" lives. This exploration is vital in the contemporary context, where evidence of positive outcomes for care-experienced people is heavily underreported. By doing this, we intend to contest the "poor outcomes" messaging which stigmatises children currently in care and young people leaving care.
Findings from this project will contribute to and diversify the evidence base around what it means to be a parent who is care experienced. Research findings will be shared widely with policy-makers, practitioners and the wider public to platform the voices of care leavers and to advocate for a wider understanding of both the triumphs and the challenges experienced by parents with a care background.
Why did we choose to do this research?
We know very little about the everyday parenting activities of parents with a care background and would like to present a more balanced understanding of what it means to be a parent with care experience. While data is collected about the number of people with a care background who go on to receive targeted services, little is known of those who do not.
Previous research with university students from a care background found that a number of them aspired to become parents and had high aspirations for the kind of parent that they would be. As Lydia claims: "I think my calling in life is to be a mum and to be the best mum that I could ever be."
However, research does not tell us whether Lydia’s hopes became reality as research rarely collects perspectives such as hers. The views and experiences of those, like Lydia and Ian, become hidden and unreported.
Recruitment
We will post details of how you can take part in the study soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in taking part and have any questions or would like to register your interest, email S.J.Lewis@sheffield.ac.uk
Who we are
Lead Researcher
Katie is a senior lecturer in Child Welfare. Her research advocates for children and young people living in out-of-family environments. She has received funding from The Leverhulme Trust, ESRC and the British Academy.
Research Associate
Shirley is a research associate. Her research interests are in child welfare including the experiences of children in care, care leavers, and parents.
