foster families winter 2010 sample

fosterfamilies

Winter 2010 Issue 7 £2

WIN!Win a Turbo Buggy from

Hauck!

Attachment Expert

“Thank you for the fab magazine that arrived this morning! Amazing as ever!” Katie, foster carer

Super Gran

Fostering a grandson with

leukaemiaBilingual fostering

Nancy Thomas answers your

questions

Learn their tongue, teach them yours

Welcome Winter 2010 foster families 2

http://twitter.com/Foster_Familieswww.facebook.com/pages/Foster-Families-Magazine/144256428433

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Fill in the form, crossing out as appropriate, and send it along with a cheque made payable to ‘Foster Families’, to: Subscriptions, Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.Name: _____________________________

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This is not the full version - to read all the articles, subscribe for just £2. The printed copy comes out four times a year, and costs £7 to subscribe for the whole year. The printed copy has no extra adverts, just lots more advice, support, fun and personal articles. Email [email protected] or subscribe at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk.

Dear Reader,

It’s definitely feeling like Winter already with the long dark nights and cold winds. We’ve got some festive treats for you inside, including some fun decorations you can make with the child or young person in your care. Also in this issue, Nancy Thomas gives her top tips on dealing with attachment disorder, while Janet Blannin advises how to best cure

bedwetting. And as if all that isn’t enough, there are plenty of competitions to catch your eye too! As always, we love to hear from you, so please send your stories and questions into [email protected] or post them to our postal address on page 4.

I hope you enjoy this issue, I know I have! Ceressa Bateman, Editor

Win a Turbo Buggy from Hauck by entering our competition - plus other prizes to be won too

Expert Nancy Thomas gives top tips and advice on Attachment Disorder

Super Nan Judy Tonks tells of her grandson’s struggle with leukaemia

With more languages being spoken in the UK, find out how to help the child in your care

Take a look at this issue’s cover stories

39 22

19 25

Meet the experts... Chris Graham, cookery teacher, shares some fun recipes you can try with the child in your care

Nancy Thomas, Therapeutic Parenting Specialist,gives her top tips on attachment disorder

Annette Webb, from Simply Fostering, is here as always to answer your questions

Janet Blannin, Starr Medical, looks at the best ways to cure bedwetting

Helen White, independent Real Nappy Advisor, shows how using Real Nappies can save you money

fosterfamilies

Winter 2010 Issue 7 £2

WIN!Win a Turbo Buggy from

Hauck!

Attachment Expert

“Thank you for the fab magazine that arrived this morning! Amazing as ever!” Katie, foster carer

Super Gran

Fostering a grandson with

leukaemiaBilingual fostering

Nancy Thomas answers your

questions

Learn their tongue, teach them yours

Photos (from

left) : Daniel Zanini H

, David W

oo

Welcome Winter 2010 foster families 2

Contents Winter 2010 foster families 3

http://twitter.com/Foster_Families


ContentsThese are the contents for the FULL printed version of the Winter edition of Foster Families

tips for curing bedwetting ... 33a healthier diet, one chip at a time ... 33 the creaming method explained ... 35chris’s cookery cards ... 36

support . . .

advice . . .

fun stuff . . .

food and health . . .

avoiding allegations at christmas ... 15help filling out your cwdc form ... 16support on surviving a tough placement ... 17dealing with attachment disorder ... 27

our top tips ...hospital visits ... 20avoid bedwetting ... 34

home . . .fresh walls for each new child in your care... 30our christmas gift list ideas ... 31decoration ideas with salt dough ... 35

real nappies, save money ...13 registering as self employed ...14

book reviews ...you share your favourite books:i miss mummy ... 29boosting self esteem in adoption ... 29gatwick bear ... 37

swap shop - trade your toys and prams ... 4competition winners ... 32kids’ corner ... 37crossword ... 39

19

35

22

Winter 2010 Edition 7

culture shock - going to university ... 8summer school at winchester ...10control freak, a new novel ...11

leaving care . . . 10

33

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competitions ...grandma’s gifts ... 21my desi guru dvds ... 23orchard toys game ... 24who cares trust ...29saronti books ...31montagne jeunesse...31themessiplace ...32peppa pig game ...37mediak cds/dvds ...39hauck turbo buggy ... 39

please sir, we want more... ... 4information . . .

communication . . .what did you say? take a look at language ... 22

personal . . . a family for us all ... 5supergran, caring for a grandson in hospital... 19is that normal behaviour? attachment ... 28

Leaving Care Winter 2010 foster families 4

This summer 13 young people, aged 14-17, in the care of Hampshire County Council’s

Children’s Services attended a three-day residential at the University of Winchester. The summer school is part of the University’s extensive outreach programme for children in care and this year was based around creative arts, enabling students to participate in a variety of different activities including creative writing, stomp, drama, and developing their own sessions to teach their peers. The students put together a song and street dance performance with Seven Stars Agency Ltd and also learned the skills of stage combat from a professional stunt coordinator. Alongside all of this, they worked towards their Bronze Arts Award, which is a recognised national qualification.

Aimhigher Hampshire and Isle of Wight provided innovative workshops in careers education, in which participants took part in a Q&A session with student ambassadors and the Aimhigher outreach officer. This helped them to focus on their futures and the benefits of staying on in further and higher education.

Lee Culhane, Participation Officer, Hampshire County Council says: “Hampshire

County Council wants to encourage its children in care to go on to university, and the University of Winchester wants to provide support to young people in care. We aim to achieve this in a way that’s fun and raises aspiration for the young people themselves. The whole process isn’t

just about raising aspirations though, it’s also about raising confidence and self esteem.” Jordan, who participated in the summer school this year, says: “It gives us an opportunity to meet other children in care and talk about our backgrounds and experiences. It’s made me think about coming to university.”Chris Wilkins, a University of Winchester graduate and film maker, recorded footage of the summer school and interviewed participants and staff on the benefits of the scheme. The DVD, featuring ‘I’ve Got My Swagger On’ - a song created by participants during the urban arts and music production workshop - was launched at a Celebration Event in September. Senior staff from Hampshire County Council and the University of Winchester joined

the young people and their carers and families to celebrate the

achievements of this year’s summer school.The University of Winchester has an excellent support package for Care Leaver undergraduates and currently has 20 students enrolled who have come from backgrounds in care, studying a wide range of degree courses. One student who enrolled this year has attended residentials for children in care since he was 14. He is now not only studying for a degree, but also working part-time both for the University and for Hampshire County Council’s Children’s Services to encourage other young people to follow in his footsteps.

Terri Sandison tells how summer schools are a step in the right directionSummer schools... Get a taster for uni life

“It’s about raising confidence and self

esteem”

“It’s made me think about going to

university”

• Visit http://www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk/publications.php?action=publication&id=22. Section 4 is all about financial support for careleavers going to university. Also, check out our competition on page 29.

• On top of LA and government support which is set out in the Who Cares... publication, a few universities also have a bursary or scholarship for careleavers. Terri Sandison says: “At Winchester we currently give all new careleaver undergraduates a King Alfred Scholarship of £2,050 in their first year (it comes in two installments and is coupled with advice on budgeting and managing money).

• Also visit www.leavingcare.org.• Terri says: “Current fees, grants and loans will remain in place for students entering higher education in 2011.

However, for those who start studying in 2012 the whole system will change in line with new Government policy.”

Thinking about uni? Find out what funding’s available

The young people having fun at the Summer Camp in Winchester



www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/index.php/main-page/swap-shopDon’t pay more! We’ve got some fantastic items for sale at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/index.php/main-page/swap-shop. Why pay out for something brand new when there are plenty of second-hand options? If there’s anything you like, then get in touch and save some money. Swap your items here! Let other foster carers get some use out of those pushchairs, toys, bikes and other things you no longer use. If you’ve got any useful bits and bobs you no longer need, then you can list them on here. Simply email [email protected] with your name, address, phone number, a description of the item, and a price.

www.aber.ac.uk/wpsi

Gweithio Gyda Myfyrwyr sy’n Gadael Gofal -Ein hymroddiad ni i’ch dyfodol chi

Er mwyn cael cymorth a chyngor cyn i chi gyrraedd (mewn Dyddiau Agored, dyddiau ymweld, etc.), drwy’r broses ymgeisio,

ac wrth i chi gyrraedd, astudio, ac ymlaen i’ch graddio, cysylltwch â DEBRA CROFT yn y Ganolfan Ehangu Cyfranogiad

E-bost: [email protected] Ffôn: 01970 622681,neu Tecst: 07968 77 55 23

workinG with students froM Care- our commitmEnt to your futurE

For help and advice before arrival (at Open Days, visitingdays, etc.), through the application process, arrival, progression,

and on to graduation, contact DEBRA CROFT in the Centre for Widening Participation

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01970 622681,or Txt: 07968 77 55 23

Support for care leavers at Winchester

Benefits include:

“The University of Winchester has been very supportive. If it wasn’t for the staff at the University – I would never have had the confidence to apply. The level of support received is fantastic and it’s given me confidence to know that I have such an excellent support network behind me.”

CO

MM I T T E D

TO

CA

RE L E A V

ER

S

Leanne Hart

Find out more:Terri Sandison T: 01962 827225 E: [email protected]

www.winchester.ac.uk

02444_foster_advert.indd 1 18/11/2010 11:44

Faculty of Science

Offering courses in thefollowing areas:_ Earth Sciences;_ Environmental Science;_ Gemmology;_ Geographical Information

Systems;_ Geography;_ Geology;_ Hazards & Disaster

Management; and_ Sustainable Development.

Geography, Geology& the Environment

Faculty of Science

Offering courses in thefollowing areas:_ Earth Sciences;_ Environmental Science;_ Gemmology;_ Geographical Information

Systems;_ Geography;_ Geology;_ Hazards & Disaster

Management; and_ Sustainable Development.

Geography, Geology& the Environment

CO

MM I T T E D

TO

CA

RE L E A V

ER

S

Support for Care Leavers

The scheme offers:

_ A £1000 bursary per year*_ Flexible entry requirements_ A single point of contact at the University_ Advice on accommodation, student funding

and student services_ Funding for year abroad and overseas placements*conditions apply

To find out more information visit

www.kingston.ac.uk/compactor contact us on

[email protected] telephone

020 8417 3233

A great place forA great place for

inspiring minds

0800 005 006 • www.gre.ac.uk/careleavers

Support for care leavers at the University of GreenwichWe recognise the unique challenges faced by care leavers coming into higher education. To help you make the best of your time at university and achieve your full potential, we can provide:

� A dedicated team offering on-going support and mentoring throughout your degree programme

� Advice on the fi nancial support available, including the cost of Open Day visits and a bursary of £1,000 per year, subject to conditions

� Support in fi nding a job after graduation.

Quality mark awarded for our commitment to working with care leavers

A281-10_135x95_Foster_Fam_AB.indd 1 15/11/2010 12:36 pmSwap Shop

Foster carers are treated by the HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) as self-employed.

This means that you are responsible for paying your own tax and National Insurance (NI), and for submitting a Self Assessment Tax Return to the HMRC if required. This is totally different from employment, where it is the employer’s duty to deduct and pay your tax and NI, and make the relevant submissions to the HMRC.How to register: On becoming a foster carer you must register as being self-employed with the HMRC. This can be done in the following ways:

• On the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/• On the HMRC self employed phoneline: 0845 915 4515• Submitting form CWF1 obtained from the HMRC website• Fostertax will register their clientsWho should Register:

The person in the household who should register will differ depending on personal circumstances.

A sole foster carer will have to register, whereas a couple need to consider whether both of them or only one of them needs to register.This will depend on whether their income arises solely from fostering or if either or both of them has

other income. Other income may be from employment or a different self-employment. The level of their fostering income will also be a factor. To talk through the best option in your case contact Hayley on 01207 524909.What to register for:If your taxable income is nil then you only need to register for NI purposes. However, this situation must be reviewed. If you have taxable income in the future then you will need to register for taxation purposes as well, and will have to complete a self-assessment tax return.The NI registration is in relation to Class 2 NIC - currently £2.40 per week. However a foster carer with a taxable income of under £5,075 can choose to apply for exemption to paying it. But be warned, not paying it may affect entitlement to certain benefits.If you have taxable income then you must register for both NI and Taxation, and complete a Self Assessment Tax Return each year.You may be entitled to reclaim:You should also note if you have been employed during the year but ceased to become a foster carer. If so you may have paid too much tax on your employment income that you could reclaim.

Hayley Payne explains how simple it is for foster carers to register with HMRC

How to register as self

employed

Fostertax specialise in looking after the taxation affairs of foster carers. Please contact Hayley on 01207 524909 or visit our website www.fostertax.co.uk.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • •We specialise in looking after Foster Carer’s taxation

Visit us at www.fostertax.co.uk, or speak to us on 01207 524 909 to find out how we can help you

We charge a fixed fee, agreed in advance

Photo: ww

w.flickr.com

/photos/49333775@N

00/313929226

“Foster carers are treated as

self-employed”

Fostertax help take the stress out of taxes


Photo: (Flickr) Keith Ram

sey

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FFFoorrr mmoree ddetailss aand too aapplyy oonlineevvisitt www.fosteringsupport.co.ukoorr ccall 01730 231603

Independent Support for Foster Carers subject to Allegations or Complaints for just £52 annually.

For those who celebrate, Christmas can be a fantastic, magical, memorable time

for children. But it can also prompt thoughts of loneliness and abandonment for those in the looked after system. For foster carers, Christmas can also be a joyous time, but here at Fostering Support Ltd we know only too well that the emotion of separation, contact and expectation of happy families at Christmas can often lead to false allegations. In order to avoid the potential pitfalls we have a few tips……. Do plan ahead: Fostering can be unpredictable at the best of times, but with 1000 things to do before Christmas Day stress levels can rocket when your little ones won’t go to bed or your bigger one has lost his bus fare and needs picking up …..again! Do take time to talk: Often we at Fostering Support find complaints

and allegations are borne out of misunderstanding and miscommunication. I remember once staying up all night with a young woman in my care, making mince pies. While the rest of the house slept we talked and rolled pastry, filled pies and dusted icing until all the fears of the forthcoming days were spoken out. Do remember families: Birth families, Extended families and Foster families – what’s changed for them this year? What might they be thinking and feeling? Do keep handy the number for Out of Hours Support and do clarify before offices close what your Fostering Service team expect you to do if there is an emergency over the Christmas period. Don’t forget alcohol consumption: A glass of wine at Christmas may mean a well earned treat to you, but for your vulnerable ones it may spell

potential for Domestic Violence or Abuse. Don’t agree to give alcohol to the children as a one off treat no matter how persuasive the arguments. It’s most likely against your Fostering Services Policy and may very well be against the law. Don’t be upset if the gifts you

queued for hours outside Hamleys to buy are discarded in favour of something entirely unsuitable delivered late

by a family member……its only Christmas after all! Wishing all readers a peaceful, safer caring Christmas and a very Happy New Year from Debra Gibbs Director Fostering Support Ltd and the Team www.fosteringsupport.co.uk Oh and Do remember to apply for Independent Support Annual Subscription (just £52) BEFORE you have an allegation, NOT DURING or your application may not be accepted.

A safer caring Christmas and New YearFostering Support Ltd share their top tips for avoiding allegations

“Apply for ISAS before you have an allegation”

Communication

Support Winter 2010 foster families 8

Are you ready for April 2011? Alex Knapp, CIS Assessment, shares how to quickly get your evidence portfolio ready for 2011

I am sure you have all seen the Foster Care Training Support and Development Standards and have

probably been given a workbook by your Supervising Social Worker (SSW). You probably know that you have to complete the standards before April next year. But did you know that there is a fast track method?Since 2007, CIS Assessment.co.uk has supported thousands of foster carers across the country to evidence their knowledge against the Standards, without using a workbook. We have found that most foster carers have a good level of knowledge and understanding. Simply using the assessments to evidence their knowledge and skills, in a way that values all of the work and training they have undertaken, is much more effective than ‘completing’ a workbook.

CWDC GuidanceIn the ‘guide for Supervising Social Workers and Managers’ CWDC describe that foster carers can

fast track their way through the Standards, by providing evidence of competence, based on prior learning and experience. And that is exactly what the online assessments do – ‘Fast Track’ evidence of knowledge and competence.The SSW should support the assessment using observation and discussion in supervision. However,

because supervision is going to happen anyway and because the online assessments only take minutes to complete a Standard, gathering

evidence for the CWDC Standards can be completed within something you are already doing – supervision. So it does not need to be something that has to happen on top of everything else!The online assessments ask questions linked to the seven Standards and are designed to check knowledge i.e. ‘do you know it’. Observation is checking you are applying that knowledge in your day to day role with the children and young people you support, i.e. ‘are you doing it’.

You don’t need to go on training courses to evidence something you already know and are regularly putting into practice. Instead, if you understand about confidentiality for example,

then all the evidence required is that your SSW can evidence that you put this knowledge into practice with the children and young people you support.

Once you have completed…what then?Once you have completed the Standards, your SSW will sign your Certificate of Successful Completion, which you should keep in your portfolio. Part of the duty of care to the children and young people you support is to keep your knowledge up to date and your SSW will support you with Continuous Professional Development (CPD).Additionally, you can use the assessments to support CPD because

they can be used to refresh your memory and guide the discussion in supervision. They will also help you to

work out what courses might be of benefit… and evidence which courses you don’t need to go on!

Simple, Quick and Easy to useFinally and most importantly, the assessments have been designed with carers in mind. Foster carers using our assessments have repeatedly fedback that they are easy to use - even those who don’t like computers have found them easier to use than the workbook method.

What can I do now?Get in touch to see if your Local Authority has funded access to the assessments.Visit www.cis-assessment.co.uk for more details.Download the case studies from http://new.cis-assessment.co.uk/default.asp?p=cs

“Much more effective than a

workbook”

“Gather your evidence during

supervision”

Photo: (Flickr) ShironekoEuro

CIS saves you from piles of paperwork!

Communication



Did you know that more than 300 languages are spoken by children in London's

schools, making our capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world? Although English remains overwhelmingly the most common first language, for more than a third of children it is not the language they will speak or hear spoken at home. Punjabi, Hindi/Urdu and Gujarati

come in at 1st, 2nd and 4th most spoken languages respectively, with French and Spanish coming in at 11th and 14th*.So how does this affect you, the foster carer? Depending on where you live, you may find yourself fostering a child who speaks a different mother tongue to your

own. One obvious difficulty in this is not understanding what the child is telling you. Claire fostered a boy

who spoke a different language to her. She says: “Not

understanding what he was asking for often resulted in tantrums! But

both of us enjoyed teaching each other: me teaching him, and him teaching me.”Amanda Gay, of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Team in Lambeth, says: “We have a lot of children and foster carers, and none of them necessarily speak English. Our team give talks to foster carers – and there are lots who don’t speak English. “Children can be placed with a certain foster family due to sharing a religious connection, rather than sharing a nationality.” While you may wish to help the child or young person learn your language, or learn English, it is also good practise for you to learn some of theirs.

* http://www.literacytrust.org.uk / http://www.cilt.org.uk/home/research_and_statistics/statistics/languages_in_the_population/annual_school_census.aspx

What did you say?!

With over 300 languages spoken in London schools alone, make sure you can learn to understand your foster child’s lingo!

Photo: ww

w.flickr.com

/photos/gep/463352416

Photo: www.flickr.com/photos/97631899@N00/56583236

“Not understanding what he said resulted

in tantrums!”

Communication Winter 2010 foster families 10


Learning a new languagePerhaps 50 years ago, it made sense to teach French and German in schools, as they are the languages of our closest nations. But now with so many languages being spoken in one city alone, why not help your children and foster children pick and choose between a wide variety of other languages to learn, capitalizing on our growing bilingual population? As telecommunications, trade and transport systems ‘shrink’ the world, we need a population fluent in languages other than English*, thus encouraging some to pick their mother tongue as their ‘second’ language.Best to start youngResearch shows that the older you are when you first start trying to master a second language, the harder and less successful it will be. Children learning a second language before seven years old grow up to be as fluent in that language as ‘native’ speakers, and less fluent the older the learning starts. If we want our children to master a second language fluently, it’s therefore best to start teaching them as young as possible. In response to this, My Desi Guru (literally meaning My Asian Teacher) have created language DVDs dedicated to teaching young children Asian languages. These are currently available in Hindi, Gujarati and Urdu all combined with English. They have also just launched a DVD in Punjabi.In an effort to encourage learning languages at an early age, founders Punam Malhotra and Pinal Patel say: “Introducing children to Asian languages is a future investment and beneficial for a multicultural society. Learning an additional language has also proven educational benefits for children including improved school performance, increased creativity and better abilities to solve complex problems.”Benefits of learning a second languageChildren understand intuitively that language is something to explore,

play around with, and enjoy. Their enthusiasm is both infectious and effective. There are numerous benefits to

learning other languages, including higher test scores in other subjects, better reading

skills, greater confidence, additional future opportunities, cultural awareness, and a better grasp of a child’s original language, among many others.Rhys is from a Welsh speaking family who have fostered young people from English language backgrounds. He says: “Two of the children we fostered became fluent in Welsh and went on through Welsh Medium Education. Bilingualism is a great boost to children. When they came to study French they picked up the language very quickly.”For children under the age of six, My Desi Guru use animated jungle

characters to teach numbers, colours and common words associated with food and drink, playground, clothes, days of the week, expressions, body parts and more, making it the Perfect Language Tool! Punam and Pinal say: “We needed to produce a modern teaching tool aimed at kids growing up in the western world, understanding and accommodating both cultures.” Parents, carers and educational institutions are finding these integrated and interactive learning tools highly effective to teach kids English/Asian languages. Children learn through onscreen visuals and hearing words associated with them. Together, they reinforce

one another and can be linked to enhance the learning process.

My Desi Guru have got DVDs for in the house, CDs for long car journeys, and colourful posters to reinforce learning. Check them out at www.mydesiguru.com.

Win

Now’s your chance to win a language DVD from My Desi Guru, worth £17.99! The bright and colourful jungle characters will help the child in your care learn a new language. You can choose from Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu or French. To enter, answer this question: What does My Desi Guru mean?a) My Asian Teacherb) My French Teacherc) My German Teacher

Win a language DVD from My Desi Guru!

Email your answer to [email protected] with the subject line ‘My Desi Guru’, along with your name and address. Or you can post your answer to Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The competition closing date is February 10th 2011, and the first correct entry picked at random on this date will win.

“It’s best to teach children a language

as young as possible”

“There are many benefits, including higher test scores”


Two Orchard Toys board games to be won!

Win

Bus StopAges: 4-8 Players: 2-4£9.00

Shopping ListAges: 3-7 Players: 2-4£7.00

Bus Stop is a colourful and fun addition and subtraction game. Take a counter and throw the two dice

to move around the board,

counting passengers on and off your big

bright bus. Shopping List is a memory

game where the aim is to be the first to fill your trolley with all of the items on your shopping list.These educational games will help the child in your care to learn English, and to have fun doing so! You can buy these games and more at www.orchardtoys.com.For your chance to win one of these two games, answer the following question:How many languages are spoken in London schools alone?a) 10b) Around 120c) Over 300

Email your answer to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Orchard Toys’, along with your name and address. Or you can post your answer to Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The competition closing date is February 10th 2011, and the first two correct entries picked at random on this date will win.

How you can helpAs well as using tools such as the DVDs, you can help children to learn by creating a warm and supportive atmosphere. Amanda says: “They won’t learn if they don’t feel secure. “Create lots of routines for them, such as sitting down and doing their homework, to help them develop organisational skills. This is as much help as actually helping them do their homework.“For those who don’t speak English, Orchard Toys board games are very helpful. Do activities like this with the family at home. These games are very good for helping children to learn languages as well as literacy. “Moving around the board helps children with counting: they can buy things in shops to help them get a grip of money, and there are little cards that they have to read. The games help them to develop a number of skills, such as sharing and taking turns.

“Often children from other countries are more used to playing board games. For example, dominos is a very popular game in the Caribbean – and is easy to play even when you don’t share the same language.” Playing board games also gives you an excuse to spend time together without having to worry about awkward or difficult silences. You can understand each other more easily as the conversation relates to the game. If you’re trying to help the child in your care to learn a language, Amanda recommends you establish supporting routines and have the child take part in your normal activities, as you would with a young child who is learning to talk. For example, take the child shopping and read price tags and labels together. You can do some baking with the young person and read the recipe cards together - these things will help them to learn a language in a natural everyday setting.

Photo: (Flickr) Larry Ewing




Tired of dealing with attachment?Nancy Thomas, Therapeutic Parenting Specialist, gives some fantastic advice on attachment therapy

Nancy Thomas is an inspiring woman. Speaking to her, you can just hear the love in her

voice. She really cares for children, especially those who have been unloved. Not only does she teach seminars and give training on how to care for children with attachment disorder, but after adopting and fostering a number of children she has lived it. She knows what she’s talking about. She’s been through the pain, the rejection and people thinking she’s the one with the issues... but most importantly, she’s seen the results.Nancy says: “When a foster carer has a ‘normal’, healthy child placed with them, there is grief, anger and fear at being taken from their parents - ‘I want to talk to my mum’. These reactions are normal. The child is overwhelmed. They have no control, and they are like a raging bull.

“But if the child placed with you is really happy and says ‘Can I call you Mum?’, then that child is sick. Very sick.” Nancy compares this to how you might feel if your mother-in-law turned

up out of the blue and said, ‘Right, I’ve found you a new husband – he’s perfect. We’re going to meet him right now, and you’ll be staying there.’ You would not be happy! What about your husband? Your life? Your stuff?!

See a therapist Nancy’s first tip is the importance

of going to a therapist for attachment therapy. She says: “90% of the treatment

is done in the home. The more educated the carer is, the better the success. But the first 10% is done by the therapist.”

If you see no progress: Nancy says: “Children with RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) need a balanced amount of structure (so they feel safe) and nurture (so they can grow). “If this balance is well done, but there is no forward progress, then

the child has a secret i.e. they’ve been abused, they’ve stolen something, they’ve hurt an animal… They have to put a lot of energy into keeping that secret. So if there’s a lot of no-forward-movement, it’s because of their secret.”

‘It’s my fault’...If you find yourself thinking this is all

“Children with RAD need structure and

nurture”

Photo: Jessica Garro

Love is never wasted

What is Attachment Disorder/Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)?Attachment is the affectional tie between two people. This starts with the bond between the infant and mother, and becomes internally representative of how the child will form relationships with the world. Attachment Disorder is the condition in which individuals have difficulty forming lasting relationships. If a child has not attached to the mother and therefore created no loving bond as a baby, then they will not attach to the rest of the world.

This damage is done by being abused or physically or emotionally separated from one primary caregiver during the first three years of life. They often show almost a complete lack of ability to be genuinely affectionate with others. They typically fail to develop a conscience and do not learn to trust. They do not allow people to be in control of them due to this trust issue. They do not think and feel like a normal person. They are filled with a deep-seated rage because of the abandonment they felt as infants.*

*Taken from http://www.attachment.org/pages_what_is_rad.php




says: “Carers definitely blame themselves – we do all we can, and yet see failures.”It’s very common to blame yourself, especially when the child tells you: ‘You’re a failure’.“But we have to remember we’re healing their hearts. They blame the new mum for the things that really are the fault of the birth mum,” explains Nancy. “Carers must keep this in mind. Tell yourself: ‘You didn’t create the problem.’ And: ‘I know I’m not the one the blame belongs to.’ “When it happens to me, I literally turn my shoulders to the side slightly, to help me remember emotionally that the arrows aren’t aimed at me. “It can feel heartbreaking, as you love them. It’s painful, but understand their pain.”What makes it even worse is that other people will blame you too. The child with RAD knows how to manipulate people. They charm those around them to think they’re a lovely child, and the victim of your harsh rules and temper. Nancy says: “The mum is under attack. Dad thinks Mum’s gone crazy

– and that the child is wonderful. He can’t believe all the things Mum says about the child. He thinks she’s being

too tough and starts criticising her. “And poor Mum’s being criticised by everyone. Even her own mum will turn against her. The

child uses a pitiful face, as if to say, ‘Don’t leave me alone with her’. And people feel sorry for the child.”

What you can doIf your partner doesn’t believe you that the child in your care is spiteful and nasty when it’s just the two of you, Nancy suggests using a hidden video camera to track what goes on when they’re out the house, which you can then show your partner when they return. “One dad pretended to leave for work, then snuck back in and hid in a cupboard,” tells Nancy. “He was there for about half an hour, listening to the little angel shouting at Mum and being a complete

terror. The child’s jaw dropped when Dad came out of the cupboard and he realised he’d been found out.”

Your questions answeredHow can you differentiate RAD characteristics from autistic traits?“That’s simple,” says Nancy. “An autistic child cannot be ‘cute’ or turn on the charm. To be ‘cute’ and charming, you have to understand facial expression, which an autistic person cannot do – they don’t engage you or bat their eyelashes at you. Children with RAD, on the other hand, hone ‘cute’ to an art. They are

cute and charming to new people.”The likely attachment disorder for our son is

disorganised, but this hasn’t been proved. What advice can you give us?Nancy says: “Whether diagnosed or not, love is never wasted. Disorganised attachment is the most difficult form of attachment. You have your heart and your hands full. The child will need a lot of nurturing

Photo: Daniel Zanini H.

Children with disorganised attachment need lots of nurturing

“Whether diagnosed or not, love is never wasted”

“Children who have RAD will hone ‘cute’

to an art”

Photo: Jim Champion

RAD is when infant and mother don’t bond


Top Tips Winter 2010 foster families 15


- at least 12 hugs a day. They need lots of snuggle time – just you and them, snuggling on the sofa, maybe with some ice cream, talking. Hold them close. They shouldn’t be away from Mum (in this case, you, the foster carer). They need lots of time with Mum, not playing football or being away with friends. They need some time with Dad too.”

Support IdeasSchoolTell the school all you can about the situation - you need to work together. Mum needs as much support as possible.Dessert SessionThis is a wonderful way of having a support group. Find other foster carers or parents dealing with attachment disorder, and bring some

puddings to share. Nancy says: “The first 45 mins to an hour is time for venting. Let everything out.” Each person speaks for no more than 3 mins. Then have a break - and have some sugar. The last 45 mins to an hour is only positive. Share ideas and solutions, and the good stuff that has happened. “That way you end on a high. You can even pool funding and get a speaker – or a clown. Laughter is very healing. These mums don’t get a chance to laugh, so really

laugh when you’re together,” adds Nancy.

Success StoriesFollow Nancy’s advice and love the child in

your care. You can make all the difference. Nancy’s own adopted daughter had attachment disorder – she was a child of rage. But thanks to Nancy’s love and support, she’s been Nurse of the Year, and she’s just got married.

SeminarsNancy will be in the UK in January, doing seminars across the country.

“You have your heart and your

hands full”

What causes Attachment Disorder?Any of the following conditions occurring to a child during the first 36 months of life puts them at risk*:

• Unwanted pregnancy • Pre-birth exposure to trauma, drugs or alcohol • Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual) • Neglect (not answering the baby’s cries for help) • Separation from primary caregiver (i.e. Illness or death of mother or severe illness or hospitalization of the baby, or adoption • On-going pain such as colic, hernia or many ear infections • Changing nurseries or using providers who don’t do bonding • Mums with chronic depression • Several moves or placements (foster care, failed adoptions) • Caring for the baby on a timed schedule or other self-centered parenting

*Taken from http://www.attachment.org/pages_what_is_rad.php

Attachment Disorder: The Symptoms

If you think the child in your care may have attachment disorder, see if these symptoms look familiar*:

• Superficially engaging & charming • Lack of eye contact on parents terms • Indiscriminately affectionate with strangers • Not affectionate on parents’ terms (not cuddly) • Destructive to self, others and material things (accident prone) • Cruelty to animals • Lying about the obvious (crazy lying) • Stealing • No impulse controls (frequently acts hyperactive)

• Learning lags • Lack of cause and effect thinking • Lack of conscience • Abnormal eating patterns • Poor peer relationships • Preoccupation with fire • Preoccupation with blood & gore• Persistent nonsense questions & chatter • Inappropriately demanding & clingy • Abnormal speech patterns • Triangulation of adults • False allegations of abuse • Presumptive entitlement issues • Parents appear hostile and angry

For seminar dates and for more info and advice from Nancy, visit http://www.attachment.org Support other foster carers with some cake, at a Dessert Session


Top Tips Winter 2010 foster families 15



10 copies of ‘Who Cares... about looked-after children’s education?’ up for grabs! Fantastic advice on Personal Education Plans, understanding how children learn and the financial support available to them. The guide explains the different stages of education, all the way up to university. It contains everything you need to know, and explains it all in an easy-to-read manner. To get your hands on a copy, visit www.whocarestrust.org.uk, or answer this question for your chance to win one of 10 free copies: Who stars in Disney’s latest adaptation of A Christmas Carol? a) Jim Carrey b) Julian Clary c) Cary Grant To enter, simply email your answer, along with your name and address to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Who Cares’. Or you can post your entry to Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The closing date is February 10th 2011, and the first 10 entries picked at random on this date will win.

Southampton Footballing legend Matt Le Tissier, who has represented England and is currently one of the main Sky sports pundits, supports Simply Fostering and believes that all looked after children deserve to experience some positive family life.

Simply Fostering has now helped over 30 experienced foster carers transfer to new fostering agencies who are better suited or equipped to cater for their fostering needs. For more info, please complete the registration form at www.simplyfostering.co.uk.

For more detailed information about these resources:www.youngpeopleinfocus.org.uk/publications To order call 01273 693311 (select publications department)

young peoplein focus

research | training | publications

for foster carers

for young people

Getting AlongA companion to the training pack,this high quality magazine resourceis packed with quotes & tips fromyoung people, foster carers andsocial workers. Topics include;moving, trust, school, friends,health, sex, risk and more!

Teenagers in Foster Care –Promoting Positive Relationships.

This training material is designedspecifically for foster carers and socialworkers looking after young people. It provides all the material needed torun the course including a CD withPowerPoint slides and handouts.

NEW PRICE: £32.50

NEW PRICES£1.50 (single copy)£5.00 (set of 10)£12.50 (set of 50)

Valuable Training Resources for Foster Carers

Foster families Ad_2010:YPF 09/11/2010 10:45 Page 1

WIN a gift to say

thank you to your NanIf you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for your grandparent, try www.grandmasgifts.co.uk.

Original gifts include wartime scrap books that revive Britain’s rich history, classic board games, jigsaw puzzles and retro sweets. These gifts are intended to spark memories and conversations about your grandparents’ lives, making for a magical occasion.

One lucky reader can win £20 worth of presents for their grandparent. For your chance to win, tell us what you find most special about your grandparent. Email your answer, along with your name and address to

[email protected] with the subject line ‘Grandma’s Gifts’. Or you

can post your entry to Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook

Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The closing date is February

10th 2011, and the first entry picked at random on this date will win.

WIN! WIN!

Home Winter 2010 foster families 16

This is not the full version - to read all the articles, subscribe for just £7 per year. Email [email protected]

The Montagne Jeunesse Foot Cooler is the perfect treat for your feet.Bursting with Iced Blueberry and Balm Mint to cool and soothe this unique cream talc is a no fuss solution to calming tired swollen feet. With no need to rinse this is the perfect indulgence for foster mums and mums-to-be.Check them out at www.montagnejeunesse.com.

WINNow one lucky reader can win a pack of pampering masks for their face, hair and feet. To be in with a chance, simply email your name and address to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Pamper pack’. The first entry drawn at random will win. Competition closes February 10th 2011.

Saronti’s A Special Christmas is 32 pages of a funny, rhyming personalised story where both the illustrations and the text can feature up to seven of your family members (or pay extra for more). Character faces are made up from the photos of family members you supply, and the text features their names too. Get the kids a great gift... and adults will laugh at the funny character roles in the story. For your chance to win a free Special Christmas book from Saronti, simply answer this question: Name two other photo gifts Saronti produces, besides the books?Visit www.saronti.com for more info!

To enter, send your answer, along with your name and address to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Saronti’. Or you can post your entry to Foster Families, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The closing date is February 10th 2011, and the first correct entry picked at random on this date will win.

Win a Saronti Christmas bookHelp the child in your care feel part of your family!

Win

Win Win a Montagne Jeunesse Pampering PackHere’s a treat for you this New Year

BAAF is not just for social workers. Foster carers and adopters also find that individual membership of BAAF helps them do a better job.

Find out why we have 1,400 individual and 500 corporate members.

Visit www.baaf.org.uk/join

The membership association for everyone working in fostering and adoption

Hello Clare,I don’t think it’s appropriate for fostered children to babysit other children. Looking at it from a ‘Safe Caring’ perspective, there are too many risks to contemplate and it would not be fair to put that level of responsibility onto a ‘looked after child’. You need to consider developing your own support networks, if you don’t have any available adults to support you or talk to your supervising social worker about support resources available to you for babysitting duties. Ideally you would want an adult who is known to the children and one who is CRB checked.I hope this helps. Best Wishes, Annette

Dear Annette, I'm currently looking into older fostered children babysitting for birth children and other fostered children in the household. What safeguards are put in place to enable it to happen? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks!

Have your say! If you’ve got a letter or a story to share, email it to [email protected] or write to Have Your Say, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.

Annette Webb, Simply Fostering, answers your letters (more in our full issue):

Home Winter 2010 foster families 16

Competition Winter 2010 foster families 17

Adoption is a very special time and the parents, and their children, deserve a special cardDuring my personal adoption journey I’ve noted the lack of adoption greeting cards for sale. That is why I’ve set up this website and sell these fine personal cards. The good news is I am now an adoptive mum myself - with two wonderful children.There is a small sample of cards for sale on the website, with numerous card designs and themes to choose from for each occasion, from adoption announcements to ‘Welcome to Our Family’. Please contact me if you have a particular request.Carolyn 0116 2221882/ 07974810771 www.adoptiongreetingcards.co.uk

Competition Winners

Adoption Greeting Cards

Congratulations to our winners! The 5 Little Monkeys Jumping in the Bed Board Game goes to Steven

from Swansea.Davina, Co. Durham, and Sue, York, both won the Let’s Go To School DVD from Leapfrog.

Angie from Dudley won the Kitchen Pack from themessiplace.com.Well done to Edward from East Mids, for winning the Ben 10 DVD, and to Laura for winning

the Little Kingdom DVD.Lesley, Co. Durham, and Gemma, Kent, won theBabaSling.

Win the new Ben 10 DVD in our competitionBen 10 Alien Force Volume 4: Undercover It’s hero time once again! Currently the top rated show on Cartoon Network, Ben, Gwen and Kevin are back for all-new high octane adventures including a battle against Ben’s evil twin. When he’s not teleporting to distant planets

or rescuing the Earth from destruction, Ben even tries to give dating advice to Kevin. Now there’s a challenge! But with his heroic bravery and powerful Omnitrix, Ben can handle just about anything.The DVD features these fantastic episodes: • Darkstar Rising• Alone Together• Good Copy Bad Copy• Save The Last Dance• UndercoverSold at £9.99, you can win a copy for free by entering our Number Corner competition. Send your answer, with your name and address, to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Ben 10’. Or you can post your entry to Foster Families Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The first correct entry drawn at random will win. The deadline is November 10th 2010.

37 foster families Autumn 2010

familiesChris’s Cookery Class

Kids Corner!

16 58 30

51 44

65 72 23

37 ? 86

Number CornerThe numbers in the box below go up in 7s from 16 to 86. Can you work

out which number is missing?

Scramble CornerThe words below have been

scrambled! Can you put the letters in the right order to spell out some words to do with Little Kingdom?

Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom DVD CompetitionTake a magical journey to The Little Kingdom on 27th September when BAFTA award-winning pre-school series Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom- Holly’s Magic Wand arrives on DVD for the first time! The DVD contains 10 episodes plus special bonus episode ‘The

King’s Busy Day’. www.littlekingdom.co.uk.Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom follows the amusing adventures of Princess Holly and her best friend Ben Elf. They live in the Little Kingdom, a tiny but enchanted magical land where flowers and grass rise above the tallest towers.You can win the DVD here by entering our Scramble Corner competition! Send your answer with your name and address, to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Little Kingdom’. Or you can post your entry to Foster Families Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The first correct entry drawn at random will win. The deadline is November 10th 2010.

COMPETITION

WIN!

1. N B E2. O L H Y L3. E F L4. N G K I5. A C M I G

Here at themessiplace.com we offer a unique range of products that the children in your care will love. Why? Because kids like to have fun and get messy! We also know parents don’t like cleaning up the mess afterwards so take a look at www.themessiplace.com and make your life easier.The messi range is aimed at providing children with garments and equipment needed for those messy times - whether producing wonderful artworks or having fun in the kitchen or garden. The bright range of high quality products includes pencil cases, aprons and garden kneelers. The

colour options available will appeal to both boys and girls. Foster Families have teamed up with www.themessiplace.com to offer you the chance to win an individual boys or girls kids pack. Each pack includes a bag, a pencil case and an art smock made from colourful wipe-clean PVC.

Let’s get messy!Your chance to win a messi kids pack

Win

Who produces the art smock, bag and pencil case shown above? a) the messi place b) the tidy place c) the arty placeIf you think you know the answer, email it to [email protected] along with your name, address and the subject line ‘Messi’, for your chance to win a pack like the one pictured above. Or post your entry to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. The first correct entry drawn on February 10th 2011 will win the prize.

Win

This is not the full version - to read all the articles, subscribe for just £7 per year. Email [email protected]

Annette Webb


Win Peppa Pig for the Wii

Three lucky children can winYou’ll be delighted to hear that the videogame Peppa Pig - Fun and Games is now available on Wii consoles priced £19.99 RRP. Peppa Pig- Fun and Games allows you to explore Peppa’s world and is simple enough to play without extra adult help. There are 10 re-playable games to discover which include Daddy Pig’s Bubbles, George’s Rocket, Cleaning Bicycles, Picking Apples, Watering Flowers, Duck Pond, Making Pictures, Decorating Cupcakes, Birthday Cake, Bursting Balloons- plus the bonus activity Dressing Up Game for which you can unlock extra outfits. Visit www.playwithpeppa.com for more information.

Gatwick Bear by Anna Cuffaro (Sparkling Books) £9.99 ISBN: 978-1-907230-02-8

2 4

3 2

4 1

1 3

Enter a number between 1 and 4 in each empty square so that every row, every column and

every 2 by 2 box contain all four of the numbers between 1 to 4. Work out what number should be in the blue square for your chance to win Peppa Pig - Fun

and Games.

Sudoku Corner

For your chance to winFind the missing number in the blue box on the Sudoku game and email your answer to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Peppa Pig’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn will win the prize. The competition closes February 10th 2011.

Win

This book is great for kids like you!Gatwick Bear lives at Gatwick airport. In this adventure he is told to leave the airport, so he travels to Switzerland and gets into some fun and trouble along the way. He becomes part of a new family when he meets some other bears, but none of them realise that they’ve been misidentified as bank-robbers! Will they be caught by the police and blamed for someone else’s crime? Or will they persuade everyone that they are honest bears really?Read the book and find out! Buy it here: www.sparklingbooks.com/gatwick_bear.html

Note to foster carers: Gatwick starts off homeless, with all of his belongings fitting inside one bag, and by the end of the book he has a new family that love and care for him. He deals with lots of rejection and misunderstanding. He wants to be independent and look after his little sister. He’s a helpful bear, but gets into trouble without realising what he’s doing. Many of the children in your care will relate to Gatwick and the situations he finds himself in. The book also throws in lots of useful facts so that children will learn while reading.

Book

ReviewWhat are you reading?

What’s your favourite book at the moment?We’d love to hear what books you like to read. Let us know at [email protected] or post to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. You could even send us a review!

Kids Corner Winter 2010 foster families 18

Kids Corner!

We’ve teamed with Mediak to give two lucky readers the chance to win a personalised CD or DVD. Not only do the songs and rhymes mention the name of your foster child, but a three-lined personalised message printed on the front of the disc makes it the perfect gift! For your chance to win, find the nine-letter word in the box below and email your answer to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Mediak’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn will win the prize. The competition closes February 10th 2011.Visit www.kidsmusiccds.co.uk for more info.

For your chance to win, use the questions to fill out the crossword. The coloured squares are an anagram of a word linked to Hauck. Once you’ve worked that out, email your answer to

[email protected] with the subject line ‘Turbo’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn will win the

prize. The competition closes February 10th 2011.

Win

Win a Turbo buggy from Hauck

An extra lightweight reclining stroller with adjustable footrest. The Turbo has a 5-point harness with padded shoulder straps for comfort and safety. With its swivel/lockable front wheels and large shopping basket the Turbo is the ideal

Win personalised CDs and DVDs from Mediak

“I received some Mediak DVDs as a prize and they have been invaluable! Our two foster children received one each - a boy of four years and a girl of eight years. Both DVDs mention their names many times and make the children feel very special and important! They love watching and interacting with the songs and stories, and they have something that belongs just to them and no one else! They have been especially useful being played on their portable DVD players on long car journeys on our many trips to France.”Sue Hill, foster carer.

Win

D N M

E G E

S E T

How many words can you make using the letters in the box? You can only use each letter once, but they can be used in any order (they don’t have to be connected). There is at least one nine-letter word to be found! Once you’ve found that, send it in with your name and address to enter our competition above.Good luck!

Across 1. Where you may skate on ice (4) 3. Some of the top US colleges and schools are part of the ___ League (3) 5. __ Dog Go, children’s book (2) 6. Fly larvae (6) 7. ___ Rise to Candleford, BBC1 drama (4) 9. Captain Von Trapp’s eldest daughter (6) 11. Amphibian’s eggs (5)

Down 1. Ballroom dance (5) 2. You can buy her cookbooks and watch her demonstrations on TV (7) 3. The ninth Greek letter (4) 4. University city with a Minster (4) 5. _______ Globe, acting award (6) 8. ______ Witherspoon, actress (5) 10. Independent Worker’s Union (inits) (3) 12. Tom Selleck starred as Magnum

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Help the child in your care to feel special with these fantastic CDs and DVDs

runabout for town.

Competition Winter 2010 foster families 19

COMPETITION


Kids Corner Winter 2010 foster families 18

Positive Learning Ltd - Delivering professional training products and events specialising in Health and Social Care issues, with a particular focus on Safeguarding and Child Protection.

Foster carers can individually attend any of our courses and events held throughout the year or we can design and deliver In-house Training for Foster Care groups, agencies and organisations. - Helping foster carers gain practical skills and knowledge to enable them to overcome the challenges they encounter and ensuring young people in care maximise their potential. Examples of some of our training topics include:

Dealing Effectively with Challenging Behaviour Child Protection and the Internet

Supporting Young People Leaving CareDomestic Violence and the Impact on Child DevelopmentManaging ADHD and other Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Children and Young People who Self-harm

Call 01243 544 960 or visit www.positivelearning.co.uk for more information on these and other topics available

Professional Development and Training for Foster Carers

CWDCInductionStandards

FosterCareandShortBreak Standards

SafeguardingChildren

Supportingandenabling:

Evidenceportfolios

Supervision

PersonalDevelopmentPlans

EasytouseassessmentstoevidenceknowledgefortheCWDCStandards:

w w w . c i s - a s s e s s m e n t . c o . u k

Common InductionStandards

Managers' InductionStandards

LDQ Induction Standards

For a free evaluation, or more information contact:

tel: 0845 873 0373email: [email protected]

We provide carers and managers with easy to use assessments to evidence their knowledge

against Skills for Care Standards

Knowledge Sets:

Safeguarding Adults

Dementia

Medication

Infection Control

0842-17x8-cis 15/10/09 14:10 Page 1

Forafreeevaluation,ormoreinformationcontact:

tel:08458730373email:[email protected]

w w w . c i s - a s s e s s m e n t . c o . u k

foster families winter 2010 sample

Documents

foster families

attachment expertthank

turbo buggy

carenancy thomas

tooexpert nancy thomas

email address

fab magazine

fun recipes