Useful Resources for Foster Carers
Whether you are a first time foster carer, or have been fostering for years, having a bank of resources readily available that you can access for parenting support is hugely reassuring. Below we have listed links to some helpful websites, podcasts and books that our foster carers have recommended, hopefully you will find them useful too.
Books
by Betsy de Thierry
The Simple Guide to Child Trauma - Betsy de Thierry
What is trauma? How does it affect children? How can adults help? Providing straightforward answers to these complex questions, The Simple Guide to Child Trauma is the perfect starting point for any adult caring for or working with a child who has experienced trauma. It will help them to understand more about a child's emotional and behavioural responses following trauma and provides welcome strategies to aid recovery.
by Colby Pearce
A Short Introduction to Attachment and Attachment Disorder - Colby Pearce
This book presents a short and accessible introduction to what 'attachment' means and how to recognise attachment disorders in children. The author explains how complex problems in childhood may stem from the parent-child relationship during a child's early formative years, and later from the child's engagement with the broader social world. It explores the mindset of difficult and traumatised children and the motivations behind their apparently antisocial and defensive tendencies. A Short Introduction to Attachment and Attachment Disorder includes case vignettes to illustrate examples, and offers a comprehensive set of tried-and-tested practical strategies for parents, carers and practitioners in supportive roles caring for children.
by Dan Hughes
Parenting a Child with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties - Dan Hughes
Dan Hughes shares his expertise on the symptoms, prognosis and treatment for children affected by emotional and behavioural difficulties, with valuable advice on how parents and carers can help children to improve their behaviour and increase their self-esteem. Prospective adopters and carers are often faced with the prospect of having to decide whether they can care for a child with a health need or condition they know little about and have no direct experience of. It can be difficult to know where to turn for reliable information. What lies behind the diagnoses and "labels" that many looked after children bring with them? And what will it be like to live with them? How will they benefit from family life? This book, part of a series looking at health issues, provides expert knowledge about emotional and behavioural difficulties, a common diagnosis in looked after children. Adopters and foster carers also describe what it is like to parent an affected child, ‘telling it like it is’, sharing their parenting experiences and offering useful advice.’
by Kate and Brian Cairns
Attachment, Trauma and Resilience (therapeutic caring for children)- Kate and Brian Cairns
Kate Cairns is a social worker by profession who has also, over a 25-year period and along with her husband and birth children, fostered 12 other children who remain part of their family group. In this compelling book she draws on the wealth of her personal and professional experience to offer a vivid glimpse into family life with children who have experienced attachment difficulties, loss, abuse and trauma, and shows in a range of everyday situations how the family responded to the powerful feelings and difficult behaviours the children displayed. Drawing on knowledge and ideas that helped her make sense of this experience, the author includes suggestions for carers and professionals on what may be observed in children with unmet attachment needs and post-traumatic stress disorders, and what can be done to promote recovery and develop resilience.
Various Authors
New Beginnings and Other Writings on Being in Care - Various Authors
This rare and rich collection of poetry and writing throws the spotlight on living 'in care' - a subject rarely explored in literature and yet experienced by more than 60,000 children in the UK every year. The 30 entries by children and young people, aged from nine to 24 years old, reflect on a range of feelings about leaving the familiarity of family and home, starting afresh, dealing with changes, being 'lost and found', feeling loved, and what being in care has meant for them. The life experiences of these children and young people can be hard for them to recall, make sense of and communicate and for many writing is an effective and therapeutic way of expressing challenging emotions and experiences.
by Lorna Miles
Holding on and hanging in - Lorna Miles
This compelling story tracks Wayne's journey from first being fostered by Lorna at the age of seven, in a therapeutic fostering placement, through nearly five years of family life. Wayne is traumatised by his early experiences of neglect and domestic abuse. Even when surrounded by a team of experienced foster carers, counsellors and therapists, helping him grow and heal will be a long and difficult process. But Lorna and her family are determined not to give up hope...
This honest, open and heartfelt account takes us through the highs and lows of Lorna and her family's dedicated perseverance to help Wayne move from despair and anger to health and recovery. Lorna describes her feelings and responses to the events that take place and is often able to portray the humour of situations, alongside the difficulties and frustrations, which present themselves.
By Dr Tina Payne Bryson & Dr Daniel Siegal
The Whole- Brain Child - By Dr Tina Payne Bryson & Dr Daniel Siegal
In this pioneering, practical book for parents, neuroscientist Daniel J. Siegel and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson explain the new science of how a child's brain is wired and how it matures. Different parts of a child's brain develop at different speeds and understanding these differences can help you turn any outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child's brain and raise calmer, happier children. Featuring clear explanations, age-appropriate strategies and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child will help your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives using twelve key strategies.
No-Drama Discipline - by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
No-Drama Discipline provides an effective, compassionate road map for dealing with such tantrums, tensions, and tears – without causing a scene. Based on recent discoveries about the brain that give us deep insights into the children we care for, what they need, and how to discipline them in ways that foster optimal development, this book offers a ‘relational’ approach that builds on children’s innate desire to please their parents and get along well with others.
Complete with candid stories and playful illustrations that bring the authors’ suggestions to life, No-Drama Discipline presents clear messages in a practical and inviting format. Using these techniques, you can discipline your children in a way that’s high on relationship-building, high on respect, and low on drama and conflict. As a result, your life as a parent will be easier, and your parenting will become more effective. And more importantly, you’ll create connections in your children’s brains to build emotional and social skills that will serve them now and throughout their entire life – all while strengthening your relationship with them.
Podcasts
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network
All About Fostering is the monthly podcast by the Fostering Network which, as the name suggests, covers issues relating to fostering. There are interviews with people involved in fostering and decision makers from the fostering community. They also discuss topics in the wider media concerning foster care.
Adoption & Fostering Podcast
Adoption and Fostering Podbean
In this episode we join Adoption UK Scotland for their Education Conference 2019: Thinking Differently About Education. We start the day speaking to Fiona Aitken, head of Adoption UK Scotland and she kindly sets the scene for the day and what was hoped.
The Adoption on Radio 4
The Adoption on Radio 4
With just their teddy bears and dummies in their hands, the children move into a new home. Meet Bethany and Ben's foster carer, Lucy. She tells us about the moment they arrived. From BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, with Jon Manel.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05kgfdd
Websites
Family Action
Family Action works to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues facing families today – including financial hardship, mental health problems, social isolation, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, or substance misuse and alcohol problems.
Family Lives
Family Lives was formally registered as a charity in 1999, and operated under the name of Parentline Plus. The parents that founded Parentline believed that there needed to be a dedicated organisation supporting parents, before they reached crisis point.
Young Minds
Leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered. Young Minds mission is to ensure children and young people get the best possible mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life’s difficulties.
The Fostering Network
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity. They have created an essential network for fostering, bringing together everyone who is involved in the lives of fostered children. They champion fostering and seek to create vital change so that foster care is the very best it can be.
