Working at Post Divorce Family Life: Utilising fathers' narratives to inform interventions for supporting separated parents
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
Over the past decade academic and political attention concerning the role and involvement of fathers has steadily increased (Featherstone 2009, Haas & O'Brien 2010). In terms of social policy, individuals and institutions alike are expected to 'Think Fathers' (DFE 2010). Given proposals to reform legal aid in private family law (Ministry of Justice 2010) and the Coalition commitments to facilitate shared parenting and relationship support (HM Government 2010) enriching the evidence base for such interventions is crucial. This is particularly the case with data on fathers' perspectives.
My research contributes to current debates on shared parenting and child welfare (Hunt, Masson & Trinder 2009, Lamb & Kelly 2009), emphasising the significance of the gendered and moral aspects of parenting identity and practice. It can be applied to a range of settings in which interventions for separating families are offered, by highlighting ways in which some fathers have coped with maintaining parenting relationships.
My study explored experiences of divorced or separated fathers who felt they had maintained relationships with their children. The overall aim was to understand how fathers adjust to being a dad after divorce or separation, focusing on men's own views on their lives as fathers. It also offered important insights into what makes this easier or harder, about what kind of 'work' is involved in fathering beyond divorce, and about the ongoing influence of gender in shaping this process. The research showed that fathers see fathering after separation as occurring in connection with others, and as particularly interconnected with mothers. Trying to stay close to and spend time with children demanded more time and attention to how this happens and the 'relationship work' involved. This included changes such as thinking about the needs and feelings of children (biological or step) and mothers, trying to decide the 'right' thing to do, and trying to be fair to different people. The research highlights these ideas of 'relationship work' and dealing with moral questions or dilemmas. It shows how both were an important part of being a father after divorce or separation and that working towards a 'bearable' solution was a difficult and ongoing process.
In line with the UEA CRCF's commitment to communicate new evidence to practitioners, policy makers and the public, across the statutory and voluntary sectors, this proposal will present my research findings to a range of audiences and use the analysis of fathers' narratives to inform practice guidance. One strand of the proposal is to disseminate the research through academic journals, presenting not only the substantive findings, but also methodological insights and broader theoretical arguments produced by the research. Another key strength of my work lies in its relevance for applied settings, including social work, family law, and providers of mediation, support or contact facilitation services for separating families. I will therefore engage with regional and national organisations (Norfolk Family Mediation Service, National Association of Child Contact Centres, CAFCASS, One Plus One, Relate) in order to discuss research findings and inform the practice guidance. As part of this broader dissemination, I will also build on contacts established with a key young fathers' group in Norfolk. This engagement will provide another important context for evaluating the impact of my research and will inform the development of practice guidance. The culmination of these dissemination activities will be the launch of practice guidance at an event for relevant individuals and organisations to be held at a UEA CRCF seminar at UEA London. The fellowship will thus enable me to contribute to academic debates, enrich practitioner knowledge and so inform family support interventions, and to continue to engage with separated fathers as key beneficiaries of the research.
My research contributes to current debates on shared parenting and child welfare (Hunt, Masson & Trinder 2009, Lamb & Kelly 2009), emphasising the significance of the gendered and moral aspects of parenting identity and practice. It can be applied to a range of settings in which interventions for separating families are offered, by highlighting ways in which some fathers have coped with maintaining parenting relationships.
My study explored experiences of divorced or separated fathers who felt they had maintained relationships with their children. The overall aim was to understand how fathers adjust to being a dad after divorce or separation, focusing on men's own views on their lives as fathers. It also offered important insights into what makes this easier or harder, about what kind of 'work' is involved in fathering beyond divorce, and about the ongoing influence of gender in shaping this process. The research showed that fathers see fathering after separation as occurring in connection with others, and as particularly interconnected with mothers. Trying to stay close to and spend time with children demanded more time and attention to how this happens and the 'relationship work' involved. This included changes such as thinking about the needs and feelings of children (biological or step) and mothers, trying to decide the 'right' thing to do, and trying to be fair to different people. The research highlights these ideas of 'relationship work' and dealing with moral questions or dilemmas. It shows how both were an important part of being a father after divorce or separation and that working towards a 'bearable' solution was a difficult and ongoing process.
In line with the UEA CRCF's commitment to communicate new evidence to practitioners, policy makers and the public, across the statutory and voluntary sectors, this proposal will present my research findings to a range of audiences and use the analysis of fathers' narratives to inform practice guidance. One strand of the proposal is to disseminate the research through academic journals, presenting not only the substantive findings, but also methodological insights and broader theoretical arguments produced by the research. Another key strength of my work lies in its relevance for applied settings, including social work, family law, and providers of mediation, support or contact facilitation services for separating families. I will therefore engage with regional and national organisations (Norfolk Family Mediation Service, National Association of Child Contact Centres, CAFCASS, One Plus One, Relate) in order to discuss research findings and inform the practice guidance. As part of this broader dissemination, I will also build on contacts established with a key young fathers' group in Norfolk. This engagement will provide another important context for evaluating the impact of my research and will inform the development of practice guidance. The culmination of these dissemination activities will be the launch of practice guidance at an event for relevant individuals and organisations to be held at a UEA CRCF seminar at UEA London. The fellowship will thus enable me to contribute to academic debates, enrich practitioner knowledge and so inform family support interventions, and to continue to engage with separated fathers as key beneficiaries of the research.
People |
ORCID iD |
Georgia Philip (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Philip G
(2013)
'Extending the Analytical Lens': A Consideration of the Concepts of 'Care' and 'Intimacy' in Relation to Fathering after Separation or Divorce
in Sociological Research Online
Philip G
(2013)
Relationality and moral reasoning in accounts of fathering after separation or divorce: care, gender and working at 'fairness'
in Families, Relationships and Societies
Philip G
(2014)
Fathering after separation or divorce: navigating domestic, public and moral spaces
in Families, Relationships and Societies
Philip. G
(2016)
Are interventions supporting separated parents father-inclusive? Insights and challenges from a review of programme implementation and impact
in Child & Family Social Work
Description | Over the past decade academic and political attention concerning the role and involvement of Fathers has steadily increased (Featherstone 2009, Haas & O'Brien 2010). In terms of social policy, individual and institutions alike are expected to 'Think Fathers' (DEF2010). Given proposals to reform legal aid in private family law (Ministry of Justice 2010) and the Coalition commitments to facilitate shared parenting and relationship support (HM Government 2010) enriching the evidenced base for such intervention is crucial. This is particularly the case with data of fathers' perspective. My research contributes to current debates on shared parenting and child welfare (Hunt, Masson & Trinder 2009, Lamb & Kelly 2009), emphasing the significance of the gendered and moral aspects of parenting identity and practice. It can be applied to a range of settings in which intervention's for separating families are offered, by highlighting ways in which some fathers have coped with maintaining parenting relationships. My study explored experiences of divorced or separated fathers who felt they had maintained relationships with their children. The overall aim was to understand how fathers adjust to being a dad after divorce or separation, focusing on men's own views on their lives as fathers. It also offered important insights into what makes this easier or harder, about what kind of 'work' in involved in fathering beyond divorce, and about the ongoing influence of gender in shaping this process. The research showed that fathers see fathering after separation as occurring in connection with others, and as particularly interconnected with mothers. Trying to stay close to and spend time with children demanded more time and attention to how this happens and the 'relationship work' involved. This included changes such as thinking about the needs and feelings of children (biological or step) and mothers, trying to decide the 'right' thing to do, and trying to be fair to different people. The research highlights these ideas of 'relationship work' and dealing with normal questions or dilemmas It shows how both were an important part of being a father after divorce or separation and that working towards a 'bearable' solution was as difficult and ongoing process. In line with the UEA CRCF's commitment to communicate new evidence to practitioners, policy makers and the public, across the statutory and voluntary sectors, this proposal will present my research finding to a range of audiences and use the analysis of fathers' narratives to inform practice guidance. One strand of the proposal is to disseminate the research through academic journals, presenting not only this substantive findings. But also methodological insights and broader theoretical arguments produced by the research. Another key strength of my work lies in its relevance for applied settings, including social work, family law, and providers of mediation, support or contact facilitation services for separating families. I will there engage with regional and national organisations (Norfolk Family Mediation Service, National Association of Child Contact Centres, CAFCASS, One Plus One, Relate) in order to discuss research findings and inform the practice guidance. As part of this broader dissemination, I will also build on contacts established with a key young fathers' group in Norfolk. This engagement will proved another important context for evaluating the impact of my research and will inform the development of practice guidance. The culmination of these dissemination activities will be the launch of practice guidance at an event for relevant individuals and organisation to be held at a UEA CRCF seminar at UEA London. The fellowship will thus enable me to contribute to academic debates, enrich practitioner knowledge and so inform support interventions, and to continue to engage with separated fathers as key beneficiaries of the research |
Exploitation Route | I am giving a presentation to family support practitioners at an event entitled 'Working with fathers; Research evidence for practice' organised by Jonathan Scourfield in March 2015 |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education |
Description | Findings have contributes to a round-table discussion on fatherhood and divorce,organised by One Plus One on behalf of the MoJ, on 29th Oct 2013. Findings also shared with Children's Services staff as part of two Making Research Count events organised by UEA in partnership with three LAs; in May 2013 and Feb 2014 |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Launch event for final report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Provoked useful cross-disciplinary discussion afterwards, and provided useful networking I was invited to be part of a round table discussion on fathers and divorce hosted by One Plus One |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Practitioner Seminar; Fathers and Safeguarding |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This seminar was aimed at practitioners within voluntary and statutory organisations, who have an interest in developing their practice in relation to working positively with men as fathers. It presented recent research evidence from UEA and from the Fatherhood Institute, and provided opportunities to reflect on experiences and exchange ideas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Practitioner seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Seminar prompted useful discussion among practitioners Request for further regional events on the topic of working with fathers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Presentation to child and family welfare practitioners |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation provoked discussion and questions afterwards Practitioners from another LA requested a session on the same topic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Training event: Fathers and family services |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a presentation given with a colleague, Andy Wood (a practitioner specialising in working with fathers), as part of the Making Research Count programme offered to local authorities in East Anglia. It was aimed at Children's Services staff in Essex and was attended by around 100 people. The presentation combined research evidence with insights from professional practice, to consider ways in which men as fathers may be perceived and supported by family welfare services. I discussed and reviewed recent research which explores barriers to, and benefits of father-engagement and Andy presented a case study of a successful project working with young fathers in Norfolk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |