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Disabled people as foster carers – closing the recruitment gap and more.

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Title: Disabled people as foster carers – closing the recruitment gap and more.
Authors: Unwin, Peter1 p.unwin@worc.ac.uk, Jones, Alexandra1, Meakin, Becki2
Source: Disability & Society. Aug2025, Vol. 40 Issue 8, p2297-2315. 19p.
Subject Terms: *Diversity & inclusion policies, *Human services programs, *Interprofessional relations, *Foster home care, *Employee recruitment, *Research methodology, *Role models, *Discrimination (Sociology), *Caregiver attitudes, *People with disabilities, Research funding, Descriptive statistics, Professions
Geographic Terms: England
Abstract: Recent Ofsted statistics for fostering in England show a steady decline in the number of approved fostering households, whereas the number of children needing foster homes has increased. To address this disparity, the present study explored the views of Disabled and Non-disabled foster carers regarding inclusivity within the foster care recruitment system. A two-year project was led by the University of Worcester, in co-production with Shaping Our Lives and the Foster Care Co-operative, using mixed methods across four fostering agencies. Findings were that discriminatory practices, a lack of knowledge and flexibility in recruitment, and a lack of role models meant that Disabled people were generally not perceived as potential recruits. Examples of Disabled foster carers acting as effective foster carers were found, but these were very few and far between. Recommendations are that these discriminatory practices should be challenged at all levels and replaced with a culture of inclusion. Points of interest: Disabled people are largely excluded from having equal opportunity to become foster carers in England Discriminatory attitudes are held by professionals, combined with a lack of role models and recruitment systems that do not make reasonable adjustments for Disabled people Children and young people needing foster homes are deprived of greater choice The recruitment gap being experienced by all fostering agencies will continue if Disabled people are not embraced as foster carers Disabled people are denied opportunities to engage in caring roles that would present positive images of disability and enable them to enter the world of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Disability & Society is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Disabled people as foster carers – closing the recruitment gap and more.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Disability+%26+Society%22">Disability & Society</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 40 Issue 8, p2297-2315. 19p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22England%22">England</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Recent Ofsted statistics for fostering in England show a steady decline in the number of approved fostering households, whereas the number of children needing foster homes has increased. To address this disparity, the present study explored the views of Disabled and Non-disabled foster carers regarding inclusivity within the foster care recruitment system. A two-year project was led by the University of Worcester, in co-production with Shaping Our Lives and the Foster Care Co-operative, using mixed methods across four fostering agencies. Findings were that discriminatory practices, a lack of knowledge and flexibility in recruitment, and a lack of role models meant that Disabled people were generally not perceived as potential recruits. Examples of Disabled foster carers acting as effective foster carers were found, but these were very few and far between. Recommendations are that these discriminatory practices should be challenged at all levels and replaced with a culture of inclusion. Points of interest: Disabled people are largely excluded from having equal opportunity to become foster carers in England Discriminatory attitudes are held by professionals, combined with a lack of role models and recruitment systems that do not make reasonable adjustments for Disabled people Children and young people needing foster homes are deprived of greater choice The recruitment gap being experienced by all fostering agencies will continue if Disabled people are not embraced as foster carers Disabled people are denied opportunities to engage in caring roles that would present positive images of disability and enable them to enter the world of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Disability & Society is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/09687599.2024.2412274
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 2297
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Diversity & inclusion policies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human services programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interprofessional relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foster home care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employee recruitment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Role models
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Discrimination (Sociology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Caregiver attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: People with disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: England
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Disabled people as foster carers – closing the recruitment gap and more.
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            NameFull: Unwin, Peter
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            NameFull: Jones, Alexandra
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            NameFull: Meakin, Becki
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            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Text: Aug2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 40
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              Value: 8
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            – TitleFull: Disability & Society
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