Search results for ‘Subject term:"foster care"’ Sort:
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Direct work with children: a guide for social work practitioners
- Editors:
- ALDGATE Jane, SIMMONDS John
- Publisher:
- Batsford/British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering
- Publication year:
- 1988
- Pagination:
- 148p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Contact for infants subject to care proceedings
- Authors:
- SCHOFIELD Gillian, SIMMONDS John
- Journal article citation:
- Adoption and Fostering, 35(4), Winter 2011, pp.70-74.
- Publisher:
- Sage
For some years, there have been concerns about whether the frequency and arrangements for contact between infants and parents during proceedings are in the best interests of the infant. It has become widely accepted in practice that, for infants from birth to 12 months placed in foster care, frequency of contact with the mother during proceedings should be set at 5-6 days a week and that those contact visits should last for a significant length of time. This article considers whether these arrangements could be better managed to safeguard the development of the infant while maintaining effective contact and supporting the possibility of reunion with the birth parents. It considers research on infant contact and on the needs of infants from inadequate or harmful backgrounds to argue that contact arrangements may produce high levels of stress for the infant through discontinuity of care and potentially insensitive care. The developmental needs of any infant, particularly vulnerable infants, require conditions that are quite the opposite of those that care proceedings often bring about: uncertainty, anxiety, and risk. A number of factors are described that courts should take into account when making decisions around infant contact plans.
Contact for infants subject to care proceedings
- Authors:
- SCHOFIELD Gillian, SIMMONDS John
- Journal article citation:
- Family Law, 41, June 2011, pp.617-622.
- Publisher:
- Jordan
For some years, there have been concerns about whether the frequency and arrangements for contact between infants and parents during proceedings are in the best interests of the infant. It has become widely accepted in practice that for infants from birth to 12 months placed in foster care, frequency of contact with the mother during proceedings should be set at 5-6 days a week and that those contact visits should last for a significant length of time. This article considers whether these arrangements could be better managed to safeguard the development of the infant while maintaining effective contact and supporting the possibility of reunion with the birth parents. It considers research on infant contact and on the needs of infants from inadequate or harmful backgrounds to argue that contact arrangements may produce high levels of stress for the infant through discontinuity of care and potentially insensitive care. The developmental needs of any infant, particularly vulnerable infants, require conditions that are quite the opposite of those that care proceedings often bring about: uncertainty, anxiety, and risk. A number of factors are described that courts should take into account when making decisions around infant contact plans.
The child placement handbook: research, policy and practice
- Editors:
- SCHOFIELD Gillian, SIMMONDS John, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- British Association for Adoption and Fostering
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 480p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This publication brings together much of what has been learnt about what works in child placement policy, for whom and why. It features essays from experts in all areas of child placement.
Curriculum framework for continuing professional development (CPD) on planning and supporting permanence: reunification, family and friends care, long-term foster care, special guardianship and adoption
- Authors:
- SCHOFIELD Gillian, SIMMONDS John
- Publisher:
- The College of Social Work
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 19
- Place of publication:
- London
This continuing professional development training guide has been developed for educators and trainers to help improve and standardise social work training in fostering and adoption. The framework lists the key areas that should be included to improve social workers understanding of reunification, family and friends care, long-term foster care, special guardianship and adoption. Topics are listed under the following headings: knowledge; critical reflection and analysis; skills and intervention; contexts; organisations and leadership. It is fully integrated with the College's 'Professional Capabilities Framework' (PCF) and is relevant to social workers at each level of the PCF. (Original abstract)
Parenting a child who has been sexually abused: a training programme for foster carers and adopters
- Authors:
- HELLETT Jayne, SIMMONDS John
- Publisher:
- British Association for Adoption and Fostering
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 129p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This resource sets out methods about how to identify the signs and signals of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect; how to respond to abuse and what children tell adoptive parents; recognising and understanding child sexual abuse; creating a safe environment; and therapy and building resilience.
'Skills protect': towards a professional foster care service
- Authors:
- HUTCHINSON Barbara, ASQUITH Jane, SIMMONDS John
- Journal article citation:
- Adoption and Fostering, 27(8), Autumn 2003, pp.8-13.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Almost two-thirds of children and young people looked after by local authorities in England are placed in foster care. Recent studies suggest that the looked after population is significantly different from the general child and young people population in terms of mental and physical health and educational attainment. Failure to recognise and acknowledge the reality of the nature and needs of this population contributes to the current difficulties in providing sufficient and appropriate foster carers. Methods of recruitment, retention and support of foster carers still, in many cases, reflect a historical, now inaccurate, perception of the fostering task. Recent government initiatives have placed a welcome spotlight on the fostering service and are likely to result in improved services. However, the Choice Protects focus on effective commissioning of fostering resources, while necessary, may not be sufficient.