The politics of Matching: Ethnicity, Religion and Muslim-heritage Children in Care in the UK

Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor; Alison Halford; Mphatso Jones Boti Phiri

doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcac068

The politics of Matching: Ethnicity, Religion and Muslim-heritage Children in Care in the UK

Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor, Alison Halford, Mphatso Jones Boti Phiri

University of Malawi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

33 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In 2014, in order to improve outcomes for children from ethnic minority backgrounds and to speed up the adoption process, the UK government changed the Children and Families Act. The legal requirement on adoption agencies to consider ethnicity in the decision around 'matching' was removed, thus clearing the way for transracial placements. This article interrogates the impact of the change in law on social work practice around adoption, using the experiences of diverse Muslim-heritage children as a case study. Grounded in the sociology of religion, the findings presented here are based on semi-structured qualitative interviews (n=28) with those involved in the care of Muslim-heritage children. In discussing qualitative findings, all adopters and prospective adopters interviewed in this research insisted on adopting children who 'look like them', and social workers continued to look for the 'best' possible matches. Children from minoritised backgrounds continue to wait for long periods before finding permanent homes. Our evidence raises questions about the efficacy of policy guidance. Based on this evidence we conclude that greater strategizing is needed around the recruitment of adopters from diverse backgrounds.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	4571-4587
Number of pages	17
Journal	The British Journal of Social Work
Volume	52
Issue number	8
Early online date	20 Apr 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac068
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2022

Bibliographical note

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in The British Journal of Social Work following peer review. The version of Cheruvallil-Contractor, S, Halford, A & Boti Phiri, MJ 2022, 'The politics of Matching: Ethnicity, Religion and Muslim-heritage Children in Care in the UK', The British Journal of Social Work, vol. 52, no. 8, pp. 4571-4587. is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac068

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

This document is the author’s post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.

Funder

The research was funded by the Department of Education (through grant to charity Penny Appeal).

Keywords

adoption
looked-after children
matching
minoritisation
religion
transracial placements

Access to Document

10.1093/bjsw/bcac068

Cheruvallil-Contractor2022AAM Accepted author manuscript, 1.06 MB

Cite this

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title = "The politics of Matching: Ethnicity, Religion and Muslim-heritage Children in Care in the UK",

abstract = "In 2014, in order to improve outcomes for children from ethnic minority backgrounds and to speed up the adoption process, the UK government changed the Children and Families Act. The legal requirement on adoption agencies to consider ethnicity in the decision around 'matching' was removed, thus clearing the way for transracial placements. This article interrogates the impact of the change in law on social work practice around adoption, using the experiences of diverse Muslim-heritage children as a case study. Grounded in the sociology of religion, the findings presented here are based on semi-structured qualitative interviews (n=28) with those involved in the care of Muslim-heritage children. In discussing qualitative findings, all adopters and prospective adopters interviewed in this research insisted on adopting children who 'look like them', and social workers continued to look for the 'best' possible matches. Children from minoritised backgrounds continue to wait for long periods before finding permanent homes. Our evidence raises questions about the efficacy of policy guidance. Based on this evidence we conclude that greater strategizing is needed around the recruitment of adopters from diverse backgrounds.",

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The politics of Matching: Ethnicity, Religion and Muslim-heritage Children in Care in the UK

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funder

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Faith in the Care System

The Salience of Islam to Muslim Heritage Children’s Experiences of Identity, Family, and Well-Being in Foster Care

Among the last ones to leave? Understanding the Journeys of Muslim Children in the Care System in England

Cite this

The politics of Matching: Ethnicity, Religion and Muslim-heritage Children in Care in the UK

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funder

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Activities

Faith in the Care System

Research output

The Salience of Islam to Muslim Heritage Children’s Experiences of Identity, Family, and Well-Being in Foster Care

Among the last ones to leave? Understanding the Journeys of Muslim Children in the Care System in England

Cite this