This book provides fascinating insights into the factors that influence why people enter and leave care work, their motivations, understandings and experiences of their work and intersection of it with their family lives.

Setting the scene; The study; The origins of a care ethic in care workers' childhoods; Entering care work with vulnerable children; Care workers' careers and identities: change and continuity; What do vulnerable children need? Understandings of care; Experiences of care work; Leavers, movers and stayers; Managing care work and family life; Conclusions and policy implications.

" 'Coming to Care' is a timely examination of the work and family lives of people who provide care for children and young persons deemed to be vulnerable. The book offers an important critique of popular notions about 'work-life balance'..." Gender and Education, Vol 20:5, 2008. "The authors' adoption of a combined biographical approach has resulted in a rich data set interpreted with great perception, attentiveness to detail and empathy. The study demonstrates how the situations of people at different points in the life course each offer opportunities for childcare employment. I very much hope that what has been learned from this approach will be taken up elsewhere." Professor Joanna Bornat, The Open University MOVE BORNATS TESTIMONIAL BACK TO TESTIMONIALS "This book provides an interesting and well written account of an extremely useful study into the career pathways of four distinct and important groups within the child care workforce. Fascinating and detailed material is presented to show the differences, similarities and overlaps among these groups. The complementary backgrounds of the writers enable them to present their findings in the context of both valuable theoretical insights and practical implications for policy-makers, relevant agencies and members of the relevant workforce." Malcolm Hill, Research Professor, University of Strathclyde BORNATS TESTIMONIAL IN REVIEWS