Understanding Looked After Children

Understanding Looked After Children

An Introduction to Psychology for Foster Care

Authors

Understanding Looked After Children is an accessible guide to understanding the mental health needs of children in foster care and the role of foster carers and support networks in helping these children.

The authors provide foster carers with an insight into the psychological issues experienced by children in the care system, and the impact of these issues on the foster family. Chapters cover cultural, social and legal structures associated with foster care and both the relevant child psychology theory and examples drawn from real-life situations. The authors give advice on how to address common psychological issues in collaboration with multi-agency professionals, as well as how to access to statutory services. They also explain the possible impact of assessments on foster children and the causes and management of foster carers' own feelings of frustration, anger or disappointment with social and mental health services or the placement itself. Chapters are complemented by case studies, and the book includes a helpful glossary to common terminology.

Understanding Looked After Children is essential reading for registered foster carers and those considering fostering, as well as adoptive parents, and a useful reference for trainee and experienced practitioners in the care system, including social workers, psychologists, counsellors, teachers and others looking after vulnerable children.

Published: 2007-09-15
176 pages 232 x 158mm
ISBN 9781843103707
$36.95
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Press reviews for: Understanding Looked After Children

Foster Care Magazine

Fostering is bout more than providing warmth, shelter, security and a family for looked after children. Rightly, this book acknowledges that looking after the most vulnerable children in our society requires everyone involved in their lives, to understand the mental health issues that they may have. It also acknowledges the potential impact of these issues on the foster carer who is looking after them... I would certainly recommend this book for those involved in fostering. I wish I had access to it 10 years ago when my fostering career began.

The Psychologist

The authors have the authority of experience, and they neither give an over-glowing picture of foster, nor condescend. Their book will be suitable for adoptive parents and by professionals, whether trainee or experienced.

Children & Young People Now

I am delighted that the foster care worforce, too often rather patronised by other childcare professionals, is being offered a text of this sophistication . The book consists of 10 chapters, with handy checklists, questionnaires and often subtly-chosen case studies... The book highlights the strengths carers need to stay attuned to the the child's feelings of powerlessness and disappointment.

Seen and Heard

I could not think of any area of importance for foster carers not covered in this book. It is realistic in outlining the challenges, but avoids making fostering too daunting or expectations of carers unrealistic

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