Safer Caring: A New Approach– supplementary resources

To support the continued implementation of the Safer Caring: A New Approach within the current context of foster care, The Fostering Network has made available an extensive collection of supplementary resources.

The Fostering Network published Safer Caring: A New Approach to challenge the ‘risk averse’ culture that had developed within children’s social care across the UK. This groundbreaking book introduced a new way of thinking about principles for safeguarding children and young people in foster care at the same time as offering guidance to protect foster carers and their families from complaints and allegations. Safer Caring: A New Approach is a vital resource for everyone involved in the care of fostered children and young people.

Since the publication of the book, the context in which decisions in fostering are being made has evolved in many ways. There have been changes to the legal framework and within the population of looked after children. Furthermore, the understanding and guidance in relation to risks facing some children and young people have developed. New research has also added to our understanding, including findings from The Fostering Network’s social pedagogy programme (Head Heart Hands, 2012-2016) and the introduction of an extended family model of support in foster care (Mockingbird programme, 2015 –ongoing).