This research examined the work and family lives of residential social workers, foster carers, family support workers and community child minders who care for children placed with them by social services. It explored how over the life course, such workers come to, and either do, or do not, sustain a career in care work. The study comprised interviews with managers in local authorities, children’s services and children’s homes; a postal survey of 305 workers in several English local authorities; 24 biographical case study interviews; and a telephone survey one year later with the postal survey respondents exploring loss from and movement within the childcare workforce.

Tags: Vulnerable Children