Care leaver’s outcomes in Ireland: the role of social capital
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-05-2021-0023 |
| Published date | 18 March 2022 |
| Date | 18 March 2022 |
| Pages | 97-110 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Children's services,Sociology,Sociology of the family,Children/youth,Parents,Education,Early childhood education,Home culture,Social/physical development |
| Author | Philip Mullan |
Care leaver’s outcomes in Ireland: the role
of social capital
Philip Mullan
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to explore the outcomes experienced by young people leaving care in
Irelandtoday through the theoretical lens of socialcapital.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper presents selected qualitative data and its analysis that
was gathered through a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews with three key informants (care
leavers). In gatheringinterview data, the Biographic-NarrativeInterpretive Method (BNIM) was selected,
as it allowed theresearch participants a great deal of autonomyin recounting significant events fromtheir
own lives.
Findings –In drawing upon the lived experience of these care leavers, thiswork will discuss how their
in-care and post-care experiences shaped their exposure to and development of sources of social
capital,which in turn proved to be a significant factor in shapingtheir in-care and post-care outcomes.
Social implications –Care leavers remain systemicallydisadvantaged in comparison to young people
who have not been in care. Research has shown that children in care and care leavers are often
disadvantaged educationallyand experience higher rates of homelessness, unemployment and social
isolation. This paperdiscusses the role of ‘‘social capital’’, i.e.relationships that provide access to social
and material resourcesand opportunities, in shaping care leavers exposure toand experience of these
disadvantages.
Originality/value –To the best of the author’sknowledge, this work is the first in the Irish contextto draw
on the concept of social capital to exploreits role in shaping the in-care and post-care experiences of
care leaversin Ireland.
Keywords Social capital, Aftercare, Homelessness, Education, Social support, Care leavers
Paper type Research paper
In care population in Ireland
In the third quarter of 2020, there were 5,910 children in care in Ireland: including 79 un-
accompanied children seeking asylum.In total, 5,364 children were in foster care, 415 were
in a residential placement and 131 were in other care placements, with approximately 400
young adults leaving care each year (Source:gov.ie).
Aftercare in Ireland
The legislative and policy position in Ireland is that on their 18th birthday or very soon after,
regardless of the type of carethey have been in, the young person makes the instantaneous
transition from being a child-in-care to being a care leaver. Aftercare arrangements (not
extended care) can be continued to their 21st and, in some very limited cases, 23rd
birthday if in education or training (see section 45 of the Child Care Act, 1991 and Gilligan,
1992). These are somewhat ad hoc aftercare arrangements and range from supported
lodgings with previous foster placement to the payment of an aftercare allowance that
mirrors the normal social welfare payment, (Gilligan, 2020; in Van Breda et al., 2020,
pp. 13–15; Doyle et al., 2012).
Philip Mullan is based at the
Department of Applied
Social Studies, National
University of Ireland
Maynooth, Maynooth,
Ireland.
Received 31 May 2021
Revised 19 August 2021
15 December 2021
Accepted 15 December 2021
Ethical approval was granted
by the Maynooth University
Social Research Ethics
Sub-Committee. All research
participants were over 18 and
could give informed consent.
The author acknowledges the
funding received from the
Department of Children and
Youth Affairs as part of the
Research Scholarship
Programme, with additional
funding from Daffodil Care
Services. Neither funder had
any part to play in the research
itself.
DOI 10.1108/JCS-05-2021-0023 VOL. 17 NO. 2 2022, pp. 97-110, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-6660 jJOURNAL OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES jPAGE 97
To continue reading
Request your trial