Adults play an important part in talking with the child, stimulating play and taking an interest in the child's games This article comprises of excerpts taken from a guide to child development on Community Care Inform Children. The guide is written by Helen Cowie, emerita professor at the University of Surrey in the Faculty of Health [...]
Draft recommendations scrutinised by service users and professionals at a workshop addressed the need for improved guidance on information sharing and greater support for families with children placed out-of-area Supporting families with children placed out-of-area and improving guidance on how practitioners can share information about patients who have been detained are two recommendations being considered by [...]
The Member Conferences are a series of regional and country conferences providing foster carers and fostering services with the opportunity to explore local, regional and national issues in fostering. Over the next 18 months, we will be delivering a brand new series of conferences across the UK for our members. The conferences will enable fostering [...]
Here's an update from Jade about what we've been up to in the past thirty days! October 2018 Achievers of the Month Please remember to thank The Alex and Timpson Trust for funding this project. - One for settling well into placement and making a positive contribution. - One for settling in well at his [...]
Social workers involved with families need to be aware of children's typical developmental stages and processes. Communication and interaction From early on, babies produce responses – such as cooing, smiling and crying. Newborns can smile and cry. Initially these are reflexes but parents/caregivers typically respond as if they were intentional communications. So the infant learns [...]
Four practitioners share practical ideas and why direct work shouldn't just be for 'special occasions'. By Chantal Treanor, Lauren Thompson, Miriam Williams and Sarah Hatton, family support and protection, children and families services, West Sussex It’s probably fair to assume that most social workers recognise that understanding the child’s voice and lived experience is central to our [...]
On Wednesday 20 June 2018, the Westminster Government formally announced how it will introduce the 15 extra hours of free childcare for fostered children in England from September. Responding to the announcement, Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network said: ‘We warmly welcome this announcement which comes following a campaign led by The Fostering Network and our [...]
Young refugees face unspeakable trauma to get here. But a cross-charity initiative is helping them to rebuild their lives It is hard to be an adult when you feel like you haven’t had the chance to be a child. This simple statement has stayed with me over the last 12 months of working with young [...]
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes here at Freedom Fostering, and over the summer has been no exception! Here's our Freedom Fostering update: Thursday 16th August 2018 We held a Madhatters tea party at Freedom Fostering HQ which was a huge success, thank you to everyone who attended! Summer Raffle Raffle tickets [...]
Nigel Richardson, chair of a care crisis review group, says there is a surge in children being taken into care. Failure to support families at risk and reduce pressure on the care system will lead to child protection services becoming financially unsustainable, the chair of an expert care review group has warned. Nigel Richardson, a [...]
