Blogs
We often hear talk about life story work, and as foster carers we are expected to contribute to a life story book, sometimes without fully appreciating what it is or why it is so important.
The success of the Fostering Network’ Don’t Move Me campaign means that 2014 will become known as a landmark year for care leavers across the UK. With children’s matters being a devolved issue, it has required separately-focused efforts in England, Wales, and Scotland to convince politicians of the merits of young people in care being able to stay with foster carers after their 18th birthdays.
We are all familiar with the naughty step which may also be a naughty chair, spot, or corner. It is a designated area where the child is made to sit alone for a set period of time (usually one minute for each year of the child’s age), until he or she is ready to rejoin the family or group and behave. Many parents, carers, childminders and nursery schools use the naughty chair and find it works well. It allows the child to take time out to calm down and reflect on his or her bad behaviour. It also reinforces in the child’s mind that he or she has been naughty and their behaviour is unacceptable.
As a foster carer you open your home to a range of people from young people of a range of ages in foster care, to social workers and other professionals. This means that you must be even more sure that your computer is secure, and that your personal information is protected. After all, you may access everything from your bank account to your online shopping through your computer and this means password after password having to be stored in your computer or remembered.
