Blogs
Welcome back.
I’m sure for many the festivities are now a distant memory, but I hope you have returned refreshed and reinvigorated for 2014.
By James Foyle on January 13th, 2014
The end of the year is traditionally considered a good time to reflect on what we have achieved during the year. It can come as a surprise to see how much we have been doing. Often we’re too busy doing it to notice. As a foster carer 2013 for me included seeing two children return to their families, giving respite to another child, mentoring two new carers, participating in the skills to foster training, as well as having the pleasure to meet Tayo again after nine years.
By Cathy Glass on January 2nd, 2014
Social Pedagogy has in my view huge potential to enrich the practice of foster carers and social workers and most importantly, the lives of children and young people. As the
By Martina Elter on December 18th, 2013
Thank you again to everyone who attended our transforming foster carer recruitment event this month. The event was a sell out and apologies to those people who were unable to secure a place. The national local authority benchmark and Why foster carers care report, containing the Values Modes survey findings which were launched at the event, can be downloaded from the recruitment and retention section on our website.
By James Foyle on December 17th, 2013
Even after fostering for 25 years I am still moved to tears by the abuse and neglect that some children have experienced at Christmas before coming into care. Their suffering seems more poignant at Christmas time when glad tidings of great joy should abound and love be with us all. I think I must have heard of every atrocity and sadness being committed over Christmas, from the little boy who carefully picked the batter off the two chicken nuggets he found in an otherwise empty freezer, to make them look more like the turkey he saw the rosy-cheeked children enjoying on television. To the four year old who was badly beaten on Christmas morning and then shut in a cupboard for waking his parents too early. He’d woken them to ask if Santa Clause had been – he hadn’t.
By Cathy Glass on December 10th, 2013
November for many is the midpoint between two large scale campaign periods, processing enquiries from the September ‘empty nesters’ and gearing up for the January ‘New Year’s fostering resolutions’ campaigns. I do miss the local involvement, but have been kept busy with our DfE-funded project to support fostering services to recruit more foster carers this month.
By James Foyle on November 15th, 2013
So, October's Sons & Daughters campaign has come to an end and with it, our blogging competition.
By Andy Kirk on November 4th, 2013
Our blogging competition officially closed for entries last night; this year we've had more blogs than we've ever had! Our judges are reading them all and will have a really tough job picking the three winners, which we'll announce on Monday 4th November.
We'd like to thank everybody who entered a blog; we had great fun reading them all and hope you all did too.
Here are a bumper crop of blogs for you to enjoy!
By Andy Kirk on November 1st, 2013
In the last blog I talked about children who were out of control, and I received many emails from carers who recognised the signs. In the 30 years I’ve been fostering I’ve learnt a lot about regaining control. It is achieved through action, word and body language as you take the reins and steer the child to acceptable behaviour. Be prepared for a rough ride for the first two weeks. The child or young person will not give up his or her position easily – it’s good being leader of the pack. Because there isn’t the space here to go into great detail please email me if you would like practical help, or more explanation on the 3Rs technique: cathy@cathyglass.co.uk
By Cathy Glass on November 1st, 2013
A lot of people ask me as a foster sibling : “do you not just want your parents too yourself?” and the answer has always been the same. No.
By Andy Kirk on October 31st, 2013
