An article in Community Care outlines tips to help social workers supporting transgender foster carers and adopters. Good practice tips include: using inclusive gender neutral language wherever possible in written materials; and not making assumptions or having fixed views about what is ‘normal’ for transgender people. Source: Community Care Date: 24 August 2018 […]
Children’s Social Care Statutory Guidance Myth Busting Guide
The Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme has produced a short guide clarifying areas of statutory guidance that are either misunderstood or act as a barrier to good practice and outcomes for children and families. The guide provides answers, which have been agreed by the Department for Education (DfE) and their lawyers, to questions identified through […]
Perceptions of care
Become has published a report looking at how children in care and young care leavers think other people, including teachers and social workers, think about care. 170 children and young people in care, and care leavers across England and Wales participated on an online survey or attended a focus group which found that 50% of […]
Care leavers and the benefits system
The Children’s Society has published a new report highlighting the financial difficulties faced by care leavers. The report ‘Claiming after care’ provides updated data on care leavers’ involvement with the Department for Work and Pensions and uses case studies to illustrate the financial profiles of care leavers in a variety of circumstances. A number of […]
Good Childhood Report 2017
The Children’s Society has published the Good Childhood Report 2017, an analysis of data looking at how children’s well-being and happiness is changing over time, and which this year asked about a list of 27 possible problems children and their families faced in the last five years. The report was produced in partnership with the […]
Half of expelled pupils suffer mental health issues
Findings from research published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) show that at least half of pupils permanently excluded from school have a mental health issue. The system is failing these vulnerable pupils with only one in 100 children who have been permanently excluded going on to receive five good GCSE grades. Under […]
Advisor appointed to boost local support for care leavers
A new adviser to support young people as they leave the care system has been appointed as part of the government’s drive to improve the lives of vulnerable children. Mark Riddell MBE has been appointed as the National Implementation Adviser for care leavers, and will work closely with local authorities as they drive forward the […]
Digital help for foster carers from HMRC
Have you had trouble with taxes? Or wanted to know more about them? HMRC is hosting a live webinar, especially for foster carers. The webinar will explain the important tax issues you need to know about. During the webinar, you will learn about qualifying care relief and how to return this on your tax return, […]
Story request: Could you foster a sibling group?
In November, Fosterline will be launching the #OneMoreHome campaign for ‘Could you foster a sibling group?’ Fosterline recognises the need for more sibling group foster carers, keeping siblings together can be a great help for children in foster care. Can you share your story with us? We can publish them as part of our #OneMoreHome […]
10 things I’ve learnt about surviving being a foster carer
TV star from The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) Debbie Douglas is also a foster carer and fostering ambassador for the Department for Education. Debbie has been fostering for over two decades and shares her thoughts on how to survive being a foster carer. Debbie said: “The 10 things I’ve learnt about surviving being a […]