Table of Contents

About this book. Who is the book for? How the book works. Background. Inch by inch: helping young people to succeed. How to use this handbook. Who Cares? Carers AZ responsibilities. Foster care agreement/annual review. Support groups. Allegations against carers. Complaints against carers. Men who foster. Insurance for carers. Unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children. Training and guidance for carers and social workers. Registration of social workers. Who AZs who in helping young people. Being Looked After. Settling in. Meetings. The placement plan. The care plan. Young people AZs reviews. Disruption meetings: when a placement breaks down. Family group conferences. Child protection conference. Working with parents. Children of foster carers. House rules. Cover stories. A welcome book. Collecting mementos. Life work. Complaints. Discrimination. Victimisation. A Place to Live. Foster homes. Children AZs homes. Supported lodgings. Secure units. The home environment. Health C Physical and Mental Well-Being. Introduction. Staying healthy. Health matters. Alcohol. Allergies. Asthma. Brain development. Dental care. Visiting the dentist. Drug and solvent abuse. Eating disorders. Eye care. Facts of life, puberty and sexual health. Foot care. Hay fever. Health assessments. Health record. Hearing. HIV/AIDS. Mental health/emotional health and well-being. Personal hygiene. Preventative Medicine. Smoking. Sun. Health record sheet 1. Health record sheet 2. Education. Some of the problems and how to help. Partnership with parents/carers. Young people out of school. Education and school. Discipline. Truancy and exclusions. Education: a young person AZs checklist. Helping with homework clubs in your area. Tackling coursework. Aiding revision. Qualifications. Education of young people with special educational needs. Careers. Part-time jobs. Glossary of Terms. Different types of schools. Mainstream schools. Units. Special educational provision. Respecting Diversity, Understanding Religions and Culture. Religion and spirituality. Race, nationality, ethnic origin and culture. Sex and Sexuality. Religions. Personal Development. Introduction: growing up. Decision making. Going to college in the next town. Encouraging positive behaviour. Care and control. Privacy/confidentiality. Self respect/confidence/self-esteem. Know yourself checklist. Values. Self harm. Listening and being listened to. Forming Relationships. Introduction: friendships. Making and keeping friends. Staying with friends. Personal relationships and sex. Sex and the law. Indecent exposure. Rape. Grooming. On-line grooming. Bracing the topic of sex. Contraception. Pregnancy. Coping with Crisis or with Sadness: Improving Well-being. Introduction: expressing pain. Worries. Worries checklist. Abuse. Loss and bereavement. Leisure: what to do in your free time. The electronic age: TV, computer games and surfing the net. Mobile phones. Social networking sites. Money. Introduction: money matters! What are you entitled to? Managing money. Bank accounts and savings. Managing money/budgeting/saving checklist. Becoming Independent. Introduction. After care: a young person's view. Preparation and planning. Making a plan. Training. Housing. Housing checklist. Careers. Works Experience/Internship. Getting a job. Preparing your CV. What is a person specification? Job interviews. At the interview. Getting an offer. Getting a rejection. Hearing nothing at all. Review sheet. How to keep your job! Keeping up appearances. What is an apprenticeship? Apprenticeships. Advanced apprenticeships. Higher apprenticeships. Moving On. Feeling isolated and lonely: support networks. Independence checklist. Legal and Other Useful Information. Going to court: implications and support. Introduction. Being in care or being accommodated. The Children Act 1989, The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. Court orders: a summary of what they mean. Adoption. Children AZs Guardian (previously Guardian ad Litem (GAL), Curator ad Litem (CAL) or Safeguarder). Guardians. Parental Responsibility. References.

About the Author

Ann Wheal was a teacher in inner-city schools and colleges before working at the University of Southampton in the Social Work division. Her areas of research were children in care and children leaving care. Ann has been a governor at a special needs nursery and a volunteer in a secure unit. She has published widely in the area of children and families. Meral Mehmet is a freelance social work consultant with 30 years AZ experience in social services, and 20 years in fostering. She has worked with a variety of fostering providers and in a range of fostering and child care related roles, including for social care in Turkey and UNICEF, and has for the past 12 years been a freelance consultant and trainer.

Reviews

REVIEWS FOR EARLIER EDITIONS OF THIS BOOK: A book which will have considerable value for carers and young people alike refreshingly direct without jargon deserves a wide readership. +- Community Care. This well-presented and accessible publication is to be commended for its clarity and sheer practical usefulness. +- Care and Health. Provides answers to the questions young people may ask. Covering subjects such as living arrangements, money, education, health, personal development, the law, and becoming independent, it is an easy to use and reliable reference guide. +- ChildRight Covers the details of care system bureaucracy as well as nuts and bolts issues. +- Young People Now.