Fostering Changes
Professor Stephen Scott from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at the Institute of Psychiatry hosted a launch at the Strand last night for the second edition of Fostering Changes which highlights key skills needed for foster carers.
The book aims to support them using scientific, evidence-based developing techniques which promote ‘positive caring’ and ensures looked after children are able to manage their feelings more effectively and maximise their potential.
Professor Scott, said: ‘Understanding the impacts of neglect and abuse on children has advanced significantly over the last five years. The importance of developing secure attachments with young people is well known and it has become increasingly apparent that sensitive responding through play is a major route to achieving this.’
The new programme has been written by a team of child care practitioners and researchers and designed to be used with foster carers in local, voluntary and independent sectors. It is envisaged that facilitators will be social workers or child and adolescent mental health (CAHMS) workers and generally those involved with looked after children services both in local, voluntary and independent sectors.
Originally developed in response to a need expressed by foster carers, the first edition has been proven in practice to improve foster carer confidence and looked after children’s outcomes by providing strategies to manage difficult and challenging child behaviour with effective communication and problem-solving skills.
For further enquiries, please contact Jane Elston at the British Association of Adoption and Fostering, jane.elston@baaf.org.uk or 0207421 2633.