An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Lived Experience of Concurrent Caring

Concurrent carers are individuals approved as both foster carers and adopters for children in care. These carers have a child placed with them while reunification with the child’s birth parents is assessed. If reunification proves impossible, the carers can then adopt the child. Little is known about the impact of the concurrent process on the individuals who chose to adopt through this route. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to explore the lived experiences of ten individuals with experiences of adopting through the concurrent care process in Northern Ireland. Three superordinate themes emerged. These are discussed alongside implications for research and practice.