The last resort? Initial findings of a PhD study exploring the circumstances, and motivations, of non- resident fathers taking on the full time care of their children though the involvement of social services

Within the field of child protection social work, where concerns about the care a child have reached a point of possible removal into care. A clear mandate exists requiring social workers to contact and assess resident and non-resident fathers, as a potential alternative placement for the child. Previous studies have consistently found that a number of barriers exist between fathers and social workers throughout child protection procedures, and engagement has been positioned as either problematic or non-existent. My PhD study, through narrative interviews and the use of time lines, explores the motivations and experiences of fathers who, as a result of the involvement of social services, now have their children living with them on a permanent basis. A number of these fathers care for children whom they have had no previous relationship with, or are not their biological father. If, as it is often argued, that men have no moral or social obligation to care for children on this basis, what motivates fathers to agree to, and undertake this role? For the majority of the fathers in the study, they are acutely aware that they are the 'last resort' to their children going into the care system, and believe that this to be the worst possible outcome for themselves and their child/ren. In the presentation I will explore how this realisation acts as a motivator to act through anticipatory stigma, grief and loss, should they not have agreed to be assessed by Social Services. Exploring how practitioners involved in care proceedings are engaged in 'future work' and how this impacts upon fathers. I will explain how the stigma that emanates from the negative perceptions of the care system in society is involuntary experienced, and anticipated, by fathers through their own moral identity, and involvement from social services, family and friends. I will then suggest that, as non-resident, the fathers in my study have already experienced feelings of grief and loss through a loss of role, identity and no longer living with their children/having contact. Anticipating further feelings of grief and loss, should their children be removed in care and possible adoption, a number of the fathers in study were compelled to engage with, and be assessed by social services