My research in the light of the literature

The literature related to corporate parenting aims to define what the role of a parent is and to lay out how an LA may fulfil this role. The discussion has developed in recent years from almost exclusively functional aspects of parenting towards the inclusion of the needs of children for love and relationship, and the potential contributions of various people and departments with a Local Authority. Nevertheless, the literature raises questions about whether it is possible for a corporate body (however understood) to provide the love that children need. The Christian parenting literature speaks of the need for a child to experience and develop love. Therefore, a first question for my research is what can be said theologically about the corporate parenting of children in the care of LAs, both as it is discussed in theory in policy documents and legislation, and as it works out in practice. Given the accepted Christian roots of social care, is it possible still to identify Christian values within the present arrangements? In searching for theological material relating to corporate parenting I did not locate any relevant literature[1] and so this could be a fruitful line of enquiry, leading to a better understanding of how Christians might work within the regulatory framework for the care of children by the state.

In my reading of the corporate parenting literature the role (current and potential) of foster carers is under-recognised. It appears, though, that foster carers are in an ideal position to contribute to the parenting task, and the literature discussed above relating to Christian foster carers suggests that Christian carers want to bring their gifts and convictions to their role. Thus, a second question is what is the experience of Christian foster carers in their role, seeking to bring their Christian convictions to this aspect of their lives while also being required to act on behalf of the corporate parent. Have they found, in practice, aspects of parenting that they would expect to fall to them being taken up by the corporate parent instead?

Finally, drawing on the third literature domain discussed above, my research will interrogate how a better understanding of the theology and philosophy of corporate and Christian parenting might help social workers and foster carers to work better together to care for children in the care of the LA. Can communication and understanding be improved if it is better understood where similarities and differences exist between these approaches?

Conclusion I have reviewed literature relating to the care and ‘parenting’ of children in the care of LAs, and the place and experience of Christian foster carers. I have identified a need for theological reflection on the theory and practice of corporate parenting by LAs and the contribution foster carers might make. Finally, I have proposed some specific avenues by which I hope my research will make valuable contributions in this field.

[1] Here I mean the understanding of ‘corporate parenting’ in relation to LAs. There is theological literature which uses the terminology ‘corporate parenting’ to refer to the contribution that a community or wider family network can make to parenting children. The contribution this literature may make to a theological understanding of LA corporate parenting could become a strand of this aspect of the research.