foster families magazine autumn 2011 sample

fosterfamilies

Autumn 2011 Issue 10 £2

Finally ADHD freeWhy they act up, and how to combat it

Caring for kids in jailRead how Rita

supported a young person in prison

“I love your magazine - a brilliant, relevant and informative read,” Natasha Hutchings, Independent Form F assessor

Find out for sure what’s

expected of you

Win a fab car seat

This Maxi-Cosi Opal is up for

grabs

Find us onFacebook

and

Your role in school

Online sample only

Order the full version here: www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Contents Autumn 2011 foster families 2

support . . .the wrong diagnosis - living with attachment... 22 living attachment and its importance ... 24changing attachment styles in children ... 26allegations: when there’s no one to turn to ... 29

advice . . .become a foster carer series: induction ... 5what to do when waiting for a placement ... 6filling out cwdc standards can be simple! ... 20

personal . . .find out Julie-Anne found her induction ... 5attachment disorder affects the whole family... 23supporting a young person in prison ... 30when alcohol gets involved ... 32

food and health . . .dreaming of dry nights ... 33coriander fish curry recipe card ... 34breads from around the world ... 35chris’s cookery cards ... 36

Contents

fun stuff . . .kids’ corner ... 37crossword ... 39

our top tips ...providing the best conditions ... 18what you need to know about uni ... 16success with adhd ... 21attachment disorder, what to look for ... 22dance of attunement... 27dry nights ... 33your letters ... 38

communication . . .are they speaking to you through colour? ... 7 reviews ...

manduca carrier ... 8 zomm wireless leash... 14alcohol nation, book ... 32

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competitions ...back to school set ... 8 ecoforce, year supply...12 quack quack moo ... 12bubblebum car seat ... 19little charley bear ... 37maxi-cosi opal seat ... 39

discussion point . . .cathy glass: holiday vs annnual leave ... 25

education . . . find out what your role is ... 9from special school to mainstream ... 10success in higher education ... 15higher education - what you need to know ... 16

seeking asylum . . .how foster carers can help ... 13

behavioural support . . .ask our psychologist: ‘bad’ behaviour ... 18tips on dealing with ADHD ... 21

All this inside our full version:

Find us on Facebook and

Welcome Autumn 2011 foster families 3

Welcome from the editor... Dear Reader,

This is the online sample - please download the full magazine for £1 or subcribe to the full printed copy for £2 delivered direct to your door. We have a back to school pack to be won in our education section. And there’s lots more inside... find out Cathy Glass’s view on Holiday vs Annual leave, and discover the emotional impact moving placements can have on a child. You’ll find lots to learn about attachment with tips and hints to help you best care for those with attachment issues. So put your feet up and enjoy!

Ceressa Bateman, Editor

Foster Families OnlineWhat can you find?

Visit www.fosterfamilies.co.uk for the latest news and updates from Foster Families Magazine. The website has a cookery corner with video tips, a shop, a swap shop and a competitions page, plus lots more.You can order the magazine in different currencies depending on where you live, or you can download the magazine to your computer for £1.

For more updates you can follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Foster_Families or become a fan on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Foster-Families-Magazine/144256428433

Download the full version here http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html to read Julie-Anne Jay’s experiences of induction.

Now that you are approved as a foster carer, your

supervising social worker will arrange to come and see you as part of the induction process. This may be the same person who undertook the assessment, but it may be a different person who works for your fostering service. On their first visit, they are likely to bring with them the fostering service’s policies and procedures, and other practical information which is pertinent to your role. You will be asked to sign a Foster Care Agreement which lays out what you can expect from your fostering service and what they expect from

you. This will include expectations regarding training attendance, supervision and support offered by the fostering service.You may be invited to the office,

sometimes with other newly approved foster carers, for an induction morning or day, which will allow you to ask questions, and see how

the office works, particularly how the duty system works.If you have been approved as a short term foster carer, you may well be approached by the duty worker to take children at short notice. Children are referred to duty by a range of local authorities, often for same day placements.

You will be given as much information as possible but may have to make a decision very quickly about whether you feel a particular child is a good match for your family. You do not have to say yes!If you have been approved for a long term or permanent placement, the process is generally planned and you will have the chance to meet the child through a series of introductory visits before they move in.Good luck with your first placement!

What happens after panel?Thinking of fostering? Mary Griffiths-Jones shares the next step in our How to Become a Foster Carer series

“Short term carers may have to decide fast!”

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Fostering & Adoption

Part 3

by Mary Griffiths-Jones, TACT Director of Children’s Services - EnglandFor more info about TACT visit: tactcare.org.uk/Foster

twitter.com/tactcare Facebook.com/tactcare

youtube.com/tactcare http://bit.ly/lqC4YD

Top Tips Autumn 2011 foster families 4


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.”

Leanne Hart

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

www.winchester.ac.uk

Children’s early attachment experiences are now known to influence the development of

the brain. This leads on to influence emotional regulation, the ability to engage in reciprocal and satisfying relationships and the ability to reason and put oneself in the shoes of others. Securely attached children form a basic trust in their parent’s ability to manage their vulnerability early in childhood and progressively enable them to take responsibility for themselves as they meet the challenges of growing up. Children who are insecurely attached to their parents do not trust the parent to meet their needs. They struggle to regulate feelings of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges and are likely to become hyper-aroused as the stress impacts on the brain’s development. Children who develop insecure attachment coping strategies regularly present their foster carers with challenging behaviour that can leave those foster carers frustrated and emotionally drained. Using play therapy When organising the therapy plan a key part of my task is to consider the foster child’s problematic attachment style and how to help the foster parent therapeutically re-parent.Natalie’s whirlwind behaviourSeven year old Natalie* had been fostered for six months by Vivienne* and placement disruption was a strong possibility.Vivienne was struggling to manage Natalie’s loud and destructive temper tantrums, and Natalie would take enormous risks with her own safety without thinking of the potential consequences of her actions. No matter how much Vivienne tried

to make her feel at home Natalie seemed not to care. Caring for Natalie was taking an emotional, as well as a physical, toll on Vivienne. After a short visit to her respite carers Natalie was like a mini whirlwind, not responding to Vivienne’s attempts to entertain her with games and toys, preferring to take control of the situation by asking me my name, what I was doing there and trying to sit on my knee. Almost before I had answered her questions she’d moved on, asking Vivienne what she’d done while Natalie had been away, before running off to her rabbit and...

Judith A James shares how to change attachment styles in young children

The dance of attunement

Can we help your child?www.brighterfutures4.co.ukTel: 01630 639617

At Brighter Futures for Children

we adopt the CHILDTM intervention model

Our aim is to create

a therapeutic team around the child and by so doing empower and enable those people to understand and continue to meet the needs of the child long

after our work has ceased

Our intervention

model is based on working in partnership with those who have significant roles to play in the child’s

life

We have a track record

of improving the stability of placements and enabling children

to grow and achieve

To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

*Names changed to protect identity

Top Tips Autumn 2011 foster families 4

GWEITHIO GYDA MYFYRWYR SY’N GADAEL GOFAL -EIN HYMRODDIAD NI I’CH DYFODOL CHIEr 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 CyfranogiadE-bost: [email protected] Ffôn: 01970 622681,neu Tecst: 07968 77 55 23

CYDNABYDDIR ANSAWDD EIN CYMORTH GAN BUTTLE UK, GAN GYNNWYS

Cymorth ariannol penodol drwy’r Bwrsariaeth Gadawyr Gofal (£1800, amodau cymhwyso)Sicrwydd o lety i’r holl israddedigion yn y �wyddyn gyntaf a help i gael llety addas i’r gwyliau‘Pecyn Croeso’ o bethau hanfodol, os bydd angen

WORKING WITH STUDENTS FROM CARE- OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR FUTUREFor 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

A QUALITY MARKED SUPPORT SCHEME RECOGNISED BY BUTTLE UK, INCLUDING

Targeted �nancial support through the Care-leaver Bursary (£1800, conditions apply)Guaranteed accommodation for all �rst year undergraduates and help to secure suitable vacation accommodation on an ongoing basisProvision of a ‘Welcome Pack’ of essentials if needed

www.aber.ac.uk/wpsi

My name is Dr Debra Croft and I am the ‘named person’ at Aberystwyth University for

young people from care who are entering higher education. I work with young people, their carers and other professionals before application, during the application process, pre-entry, on entry and right through to graduation. Many universities will have a named person, particularly if they have the Buttle UK Quality Mark, which shows a real commitment to working with care leavers. With the many changes in university education and funding, it can be a confusing time for young people and their carers. But don’t worry – there’s lots of help out there. Here are seven questions I routinely get asked by carers, parents and professionals:

1What should I be doing to prepare young people for

higher education?

The web is a great place to start – the individual university websites and www.ucas.com (see Q2) can help you narrow down choices. Schools and colleges should also be helping with advice and guidance.

2What is UCAS?Universities & Colleges

Admissions Service is a charitable organisation responsible for managing applications to almost all full-time undergraduate degree programmes at UK universities and colleges. Most young people will work on their UCAS Application form at school or college towards the end of Year 12 and the start of Year 13. The process is all managed online and one form covers applications to several universities, for up to five course choices. One of the key parts of this is the Personal Statement, where young people can ‘sell themselves’ and demonstrate their abilities. UCAS distribute the...

Debra Croft answers your questions on higher educationWhat you need to know

Support for care leavers

A great place forinspiring minds

To enable you as foster carers to assist your looked after children to achieve their potential, the university can provide:

General advice about gaining a place at university and the benefi ts of higher education

Advice on the fi nancial and practical support available, such as our care leaver’s bursary of £1,000 per year (subject to conditions).

www.gre.ac.uk/careleavers

Quality mark awarded for our commitment to working with care leavers


Behavioural Support Autumn 2011 foster families 6

Even though there is a national shortage of foster carers, many of you have to wait a long time

between placements. This can be a very frustrating time - especially when you see an advert saying there is a desperate need for foster carers, while you have an empty room or two waiting for a child to be placed. Sometimes it can be months, and you end up feeling demotivated and devalued. That and the worry of how you will carry on financially without the fostering income. I asked Simply Fostering’s Annette Webb why so many foster carers have to wait between placements, and whether there is anything they can do to help the situation. Here’s what she said: “Fostering is a competitive business and the foster carers who don’t go

long without placements are the ones who are open and confident to work with most types of challenges presented by children. Obviously the carer’s family dynamics have an impact on this, especially if they

have their own younger children in the home.”What can you do while you’re waiting? Annette continues:

“Training and experience can go a long way, so I would advise foster carers to work on their personal development when not fostering, be it E-learning courses, NVQ’s or attending courses off their own backs! This professionalization of fostering over the past few years has seen an expectation that foster carers are ‘professionals’. With that, carers with the training and experience will be in a better position to securing a placement to the ones

with just the training or just the experience. Foster carers need to use their free time wisely, possibly working sessions in residential units, volunteering with mental health patients, or befriending recovering addicts - again an opportunity to gain experience which will be useful in a fostering career. Foster carers need to understand that there may be 10 - 20 families being put forward for a placement by the fostering agencies, as if applying for a job and the local authority (LA) want the people who are best placed, experienced and qualified to do that piece of work.Some carers use their fostering experience to work as support workers on a sessional basis for LAs, social care agencies and private companies. Others may work as bank staff at residential units for children and adults. See what is available in your area.”

Waiting for a placement?Annette Webb tells Ceressa Bateman why some foster carers have a long wait in between placements

“Training and experience can go a

long way”

As a foster carer of over eight years, I have come across

many children who display some very challenging behaviour. It’s hard sometimes to know

what to do when all the ‘normal parenting’ techniques we have at our disposal just seem to make matters worse.Who is really in control?One of our earliest placements was a nine year old with ADHD, ODD, attachment problems, a bit of OCD and pretty much any other label you could throw at him. Hassan* was on Ritalin when he came to us and under the supervision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The medication didn’t

always work and he was still having ‘outbursts’ at school, and at home.Somehow we were allowing him to be in total control of the whole family. His behaviour dictated what we did and when we did it! Looking

back this must have been a very scary time for him, as adults and carers are

supposed to be the ones in control. Do I have what it takes to help?After lots of meetings where we felt like we were ‘patted on the head’ and told what a wonderful job we were doing, we reluctantly began to look at whether we could actually help him... and indeed if we were any good at fostering

at all! Around this time a good friend who is also a foster carer gave me a book ‘Transforming the Difficult Child’ by Howard Glasser. This is where the magic began.Pay attention... at the best timesSome children with challenging behaviour can feel virtually ...

Jacci Jones from Nurtured Hearts shares how to handle ADHD and get positive results

Success with ADHD

“Children see it as a reward rather than

a consequence”


Sometimes children get the best reactions from the worst situations

Photo: ww

w.flickr.com

/photos/noise0124/5698981107

Behavioural Support Autumn 2011 foster families 6

You may have already completed the CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards to

meet the April 2011 deadline. Or if you’re a Short Break or Family and Friends carer, you may be frantically working towards the April 2012 deadline. Workbooks, e-learning and training courses are great methods for learning but carers don’t always need to start at the beginning and work through to the end - think about how much you already know and how you can evidence this. Even new carers are likely to have some of the required knowledge, so it’s important to value and evidence this. Initial assessment By making an initial assessment, time and effort can be saved by only undertaking learning activities for outcomes where knowledge hasn’t

yet been acquired. The assessments ask questions linked to the standards and the results evidence where knowledge exists and show a list of learning needs. The results provide discussion and debate during supervision and objectives can be set on how the learning will be achieved to best suit the resources available,

the preferred learning style of the carer and their available time. Once learnt, the carer or Supervising Social

Worker (SSW) can add evidence to the assessment results to show the knowledge has been acquired. Evidence of testimonies and observations can also be recorded to show the knowledge is being put into practice and all of the evidence is recorded electronically in one place. Once carers have completed all of the standards, the SSW will sign the Certificate of Successful Completion.

Computers - don’t be put off Using a computer can be daunting but we’ve had significant success - some carers have told us how the assessments first introduced them to using computers and they now use them more widely. Randomized paper assessments are also available for people who cannot use computers. Less work for youCarers are able to fit assessments around their busy schedules and have a clear understanding about what they need to learn. You may find it’s not as much work as you first thought. If there are things you don’t know, you’ll want to make sure you have the knowledge to provide the best possible care and support to your children and young people. What can I do now?Find out if your Local Authority has funded access to the assessments.Visit www.cis-assessment.co.uk for more information.

Our online (and paper) assessments quickly and easily evidence knowledge against CWDC Standards enabling Carers to concentrate only on learning to meet the gaps in their knowledge.

Benefits of using Online Assessments:

• Quickly and easily assess and evidence knowledge • Enable Carers to demonstrate they don’t need training • Identify learning needs and focus budgets to meet these • Support SSW’s and Carers in supervision discussions • Add observations and testimonies to assessment results • Create robust evidence for inspections and qualifications • Establish learning and development targets • Evaluate your investment in training activities

We help Carers to fast track through the CWDC Training, Support and Development Standards Foster Care, Short Break and Friends and Family

Check if your Local Authority funds this resource for Carers

CIS Assessment SAVE TIME AND MONEY

Don’t attend lots of training courses

Instead find out what you know and what you need to learn www.cis-‐assessment.co.uk

Customer Testimony

This programme for Carers is excellent. The simplicity of the assessments and the way it has

been designed really does make it incredibly user friendly.

info@cis-‐assessment.co.uk 0845 873 0373

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines...Sarah Knapp, CIS Assessment, shares how to save time and value carers’ knowledge

“It may not be as much work as you

first thought”

Sometimes children get the best reactions from the worst situations

Competitons Autumn 2011 foster families 9

Support Autumn 2011 foster families 8

No one to turn toWhat happens when your social worker makes an allegation against you? Read Sue’s story to find out*

Record everything!Sue’s advice: “Don’t let this happen to you. Record all incidents and conversations with social workers and take a third party with you when attending meetings where your views may differ from the agency for which you foster.”

I’d moved from an independent fostering agency (IFA) with good references to foster for a local

authority (LA). When the lovely teenager, Ria*, I was fostering had good reason to make a complaint against her social worker (SW), I supported her and reported the SW.

Big mistakeThe SW’s manager didn’t accurately

record the events of the complaint made separately by Ria and myself. She instead informed me that due to the seriousness of the information I had given to her, it would have to be a ‘formal complaint’.My support worker relocated on a temporary basis to a different team. My manager and new support worker didn’t ensure the complaint was responded to within the time frame - or even inform me that there was a time frame.Untrue comments on my review The SW we had complained about wrote untrue comments on my annual review, stating she had problems with me from the beginning of the placement - even though in my six-month review no issues or problems

were raised. Rather, the placement manager had informed me, ‘We are very satisfied with your fostering achievements’.Pushing Ria out on her own The next thing to happen was that despite not being agreed in Ria’s review with her Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), the SW sent Ria an application for supported lodgings and then asked her sister to encourage her to complete the form.When I raised my concerns to the SW’s manager in the September ...

PPProttteecctt Youurrsselvess, YYour FFamilyy aandyyyyoouur Foosstteeringg RRegistrraation.

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.


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*Names changed to protect identity

Competitons Autumn 2011 foster families 9

Support Autumn 2011 foster families 8

Win a fantastic gift set from Quack Quack Moo, a new

range of practical baby accessories designed to make parenting that little bit easier.Quack Quack Moo products are unique because they have a triple layered waterproof protection guard that absorbs more efficiently, dries more quickly and offers a better level of waterproof protection than

anything currently available on the market. Made from organic Bamboo towelling, the products are naturally soft, anti-bacterial and super absorbent. Check out more at www.QuackQuackMoo.co.uk.

Win a quacktastic Quack Quack Moo gift set worth £44.99!

We’ve an awesome Quack Quack Moo Gift Protection Set (worth £44.99) up for grabsNB By entering this competition you agree to your details being passed on to Quack Quack Moo.To enter, answer this simple question: Quack Quack Moo products are what?a) Waterproofb) DisposableSend your answer, along with your name and address to [email protected] before October 31st 2011 with the subject line ‘QuackQuackMoo’. The first correct answer drawn on that day will win.

WIN!

Go green when you clean and win a year’s supply of EcoForce, practical and effective household products

made from recycled materials that are greener, more eco-friendly and more sustainable than alternatives made from virgin materials. More here: www.ecoforce.co.uk

Win a year’s supply of EcoForce worth £50

We’ve a year’s supply of cleaning goodies WORTH £50 on offer to a lucky winner. To enter, answer this simple question: EcoForce products are made from what?a) Non-recycled materialsb) At least 90% recycled wasteSend your answer, along with your name and address to [email protected] with the subject line ‘EcoForce’ before October 31st 2011. The first correct answer drawn on that day will win.

WIN!


Download the full version here http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html to read the full competition details.

Two BubbleBum car seats to win!

To win one of two BubbleBums, send your name, address and telephone number to [email protected] with the subject line ‘BubbleBum’. Competition closes October 31st 2011 and the first two entries drawn at random will win.

The car seat that fits in your bagWhat’s your current car

seat like? Or, like many other families do you find yourself without a booster seat when travelling by bus, taxi or on holiday, simply

because they are too bulky to carry? By law, all kids under 12 who are under 135cm must use a car seat, yet what’s a practical

solution?The BubbleBum, is a

lightweight, brightly coloured, inflatable booster seat for kids aged 3-11. It easily deflates and folds away flat so that kids or parents can carry it in rucksacks or handbags. Perfect!Priced at just £29.99, BubbleBum is held securely in place with the seatbelt restraints ensuring that the belt is in position across the child’s lap and shoulders meeting current safety regulations.

WIN!

Southampton legendary manager, Lawrie Mcmenemy MBE, won the FA cup in 1976 with the Saints, and is also ex

England assistant manager and Northern Ireland manager. Lawrie supports Simply Fostering in their quest to provide support to fostering agencies and Local Authorities, through providing information and advice to potential foster carer applicants.

Please contact Annette Webb at [email protected] or visit www.simplyfostering.co.uk for more info.

I’m a foster carer. Do I need tothink about tax?

Specialist Tax Advice for Foster Carers A N D R E W C R O W E

ac

Yes. As a foster carer, you are treated as self-employed and shouldbe registered as such with H M Revenue & Customs. You may alsoneed to file an annual tax return and pay income tax and NationalInsurance contributions.

We will:

Register your self-employment

Provide a financial review to identify potential tax savings

Prepare your income statement and self assessment tax return

Advise on any correspondence received from the tax authorities Tel: 0121 445 0459

Unlimited email and telephone support Web: www.andrewcrowe.co.uk

All of this for just £150.

A C C O U N T S | B U S I N E S S | T A XRegistered with the Association of Taxation Technicians as a practising member

Email: [email protected] you to get on with the amazing job that you do!

Please call for more information.

Reviews Autumn 2011 foster families 11

I absolutely loved reading this book. I think like many others my

perception of alcohol and its effects had been mainly based on my own social interaction with drinking and from what I had seen as a child growing up. This was a rosy undistorted view of the dreaded drug as my

parents very rarely drank and I don’t think I ever saw them intoxicated. Dr. Sigman challenges all perceptions of why we drink and why so many of our young people are ‘driven’ or even ‘pre-disposed’ to alcohol. Dr Sigman looks at the divides within society and social status and the

truly horrifying statistics in regard to crime involving young people too drunk to be aware of themselves and their own safety let alone anyone else’s. I think regardless of whether you’re a foster carer, parent or someone who works with children, this book is a must!

Teens and AlcoholFind out what foster carer, Jordan Schroeder, thought of the bookAlcohol Nation: How to protect our children from today’s drinking culture, by Dr Aric Sigman (Piatkus) £13.99 ISBN: 9780749954284

For more information about the book visit www.aricsigman.com.

The Manduca® front, hip and back carrier grows with your child

from birth to pre-school. Soft-structured and made from natural, organic fabrics, its ingenious design means the baby in your care is perfectly supported and held very close to you.From birth, the Manduca is a baby front carrier, with your newborn held safely in the correct position. From approximately three months old, the Manduca becomes a hip carrier, then

finally, from six months, an infant back carrier designed to carry a child of up to around four years.To help the baby in your care sit comfortably in the correct position, the Manduca has deep, hidden tucks in the seat of the carrier and an extra wide seat base to support the thighs. Other features include an integrated head support/sunshade which tucks away when it’s not needed and a fold out back extension which provides

greater support for bigger children or additional head support for newborns.Visit cheekyrascals.co.uk for more information. Standard range £99 or Limited Edition prints at £110.

Skip-Hop Zoo Lunchies

Kids will be delighted to head back to school with one of

these gorgeous animal themed Skip-Hop Zoo Lunchies... and we have three to give

away!Available from Bibs

and Stuff in six cute animal designs, the Zoo Lunchies have a spacious, wipe-clean

interior with a handy inside mesh pocket for holding an ice pack, utensils, or smaller snacks. The Lunchies also work well as insulated bottle bags, keeping drinks cool on trips out with friends or family.Ensuring years of use, the material is hard-wearing with an easy to clean lining. To protect little ones the Lunchies are free from BPA, Phthalate and PVC.

The handle is comfortable for little ones to carry or can be clipped onto a

matching Skip Hop Zoo Pack or grown up’s bag. The Lunchies even have write-on name tags, so kids needn’t worry if there is a row of cute animal faces on the shelf at school… they can easily check which one belongs to them! For stockist details and to see the complete Skip-Hop Zoo range, visit us atwww.bibsandstuff.com.

Close enough to kiss...

ReviewJonathan Davidson says: “It took some time to work out how to use it, and an extra pair of hands was needed to help with the buckles. Once the baby was in, the carrier was comfortable and sturdy.”

WIN!Win one of three back to school lunch packs

To enter, answer this simple question: How many Zoo Lunchies animal designs are there?a) One b) Six c) Ten Send your answer, along with your name and address to [email protected] before October 31st 2011 with the subject line ‘Skip-Hop’. The first three correct answers drawn on that day will win.

Food and Health Autumn 2011 foster families 13

Health Autumn 2011 foster families 12

Having put into action some of the excellent

suggestions to help children overcome bedwetting which featured in the Winter 2010 edition of Foster Families Magazine, many of you may be enjoying a much reduced laundry pile. However, some of you may be wondering if your foster child will ever become dry at night, as despite your best efforts the problem still persists. The problem may be fearFor children who have been living in an environment which is chaotic, abusive and

neglectful or where there has been domestic violence, there can be all kinds of fears associated with the bedroom and/or bedtime. They may

have been sent to and even locked in their room for long periods of time with no option

other than wetting the bed when they needed to go to the toilet. Wetting the bed may be far more preferable than risking leaving the safety of their room and walking into a domestic violence situation or being punished for disturbing ...

Dreaming of dry nights Lorna Miles takes a closer look at why wetting the bed may seem the safer choice for some children in care

“The smell of urine on sheets may have become reassuring”

Photo: Ben Francis


When they need you the most... Rita Mistry tells how she supported a young lad through prison

My husband, Dinesh, and I were waiting

to go to panel at a Local Authority (LA) when we had a phone call from placements asking if we could consider looking after a 15

year old boy whose placement had broken down. They said they were desperate for a placement for him as there was nowhere for him to go. We

said yes and wondered what we had let ourselves in for. Asim* arrived later that day with just a few bags, and he seemed to settle down very quickly and was very polite. He continued travelling to his school quite a distance away as he was doing so well there. Unusual behaviourAfter three days in the placement Asim came home very late in the early hours of the morning. He was

very agitated and when I asked him what was the matter he said he had been mugged. I was surprised at this as he had nothing of any value

on him - no money, no mobile, only a travel card. Anyway, he

went to bed and I recorded this. The arrest Some months later I had a phone call from the police saying they ...

Photo: J D M

ack

“I’ve never felt so emotional, seeing him

handcuffed”


*Name changed to protect identityTo read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Food and Health Autumn 2011 foster families 13

Health Autumn 2011 foster families 12

Tips from Sum: You can alter the quantities to suit your taste, so there is lots of scope for adding more of the flavours you like and less of the flavours you don’t!

Meet the chef:

Something SpicySumadhab Das shares authentic Indian recipes in our new ‘Something Spicy’ page

Tips from Sum: Find a local Indian spice shop where you can buy all the spices for your curries for much less than supermarket prices!

Sumadhab Das, originally fromCalcutta, India, moved to the UK sixyears ago, bringing with him tastydishes from home.A professional engineer, Sumadhab’s passion is cooking.These authentic Indian recipes from Bengal will get your taste buds going. Best served with rice, these make wonderful meals that can

be enjoyed when entertaining with friends or relaxed evenings together at family meal times.Look out for more recipes fromSumadhab (better known as Sum) in future issues. In the meantime, find out more in our cookery page online:fosterfamilies.co.uk/cookery.htmlEmail [email protected] to let him know what you thought!

Picture 1: Ingredients; Picture 2: The coriander paste; Picture 3: Ready to eat

Chris Graham shares some tasty bread recipes from Italy, Middle East and India that are easy to bake

Fast breads from around the worldMeet the Chef

Chris Graham is a qualified nurse and teacher of cookery,

nutrition, life skills and parenting.

She now lectures in food safety and gives time to counselling and mentoring.

Chris’s Top Tip: I use half wholemeal flour and half white flour because this combination is the best of both! The wholemeal makes it good for your digestive tract, whereas the white keeps the texture light and fluffy.

Find the Coriander Fish Curry recipe in our full version. Download it from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Cinnamon Swirl with pear and cloves

Loaves, pizza and tear ‘n’ share

Naan bread Challah

All these delicious recipes can be found in

our full version.

http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.htmlDownload it from:

Photo: J D M

ack

Competitions Autumn 2011 foster families 15

Kids Corner Autumn 2011 foster families 14

Kids Corner!COMPETITION

Little Charley BearNow’s your chance to win four Little Charley Bear books

What carers might want to

knowImagination is the key!

Little Charley Bear and his friends will be sure

to keep children entertained for

hours.

You may have seen Little Charley Bear on CBeebies - now you can check out his

brand new range of books! Full of very cute characters based on the new hit TV show, you’ll want to read them again and again. Little Charley Bear is a fun and playful teddy bear who uses creativity to go on adventures and discover new things about himself and the world around him.

Competition Winners! Congratulations to:

Robin Rowles and Lewis Duffin for winning the Waybuloo DVDs; Viktoria Flagg and Lauren Craig for winning the

Horrible Histories 2 DVDs; Joy Bardell and Wendy Whitbourn for winning the Ingenious board games; Claire Beech for winning the Animal

Fayre day out and MumsDateDads membership; and to Samantha Restan for winning the Maxi Cosi Noa all in our Summer 2011 issue.

Look out for this issue’s competitions on pages 8, 12, 19, 37 and 39.

E I T T L L_ _ _ _ _ _

C Y H A R E L _ _ _ _ _ _ _

R A B E_ _ _ _

Letter Corner

The letters below spell out the name of a CBeebies

character. Can you work out who it is? Send the answer, along with your name and address, to competitions@

fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Little Charley Bear’ for your chance to

win our prize!

Enter here to win!For your chance to win all these books, answer the Letter Corner competition below. The closing date is October 31st 2011 and the first correct entry drawn on that date will win.

What you will win: Up In The Air Charley Bear, worth £4.99;

Sheriff Charley Bear Board Story Books -

featuring Little Charley Bear and all his friends in four new books, worth £4.99; Little Library - including 6 mini books presented in a sweet slipcase, worth £4.99; and Who are you today, Charley Bear? Sound Book, where you can use the sound button to find where Little Charley Bear is hiding, with the voice of James Corden, worth £6.99.

Number Corner

The numbers here (left) go up in 6’s from 6 to 66. There is

one number missing, can you work out which one it is?

6 24 48 12 36 18 60

54 30 66

For more information about Little Charley Bear, visit www.littlecharleybear.com.


Win a Maxi-Cosi Opal

Competitions Autumn 2011 foster families 15

Kids Corner Autumn 2011 foster families 14

For your chance to win, use the questions, below, to fill out the crossword. The coloured

squares are an anagram of a word linked to Maxi-Cosi. Once you’ve worked that out, email your answer to

[email protected] with the subject line ‘Maxi-Cosi’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The competition closes on October 31st 2011 and the first correct entry drawn on this date will win the prize.

Win

The Maxi-Cosi Opal is a unique car seat providing a high level of comfort and safety from birth to three and a half years, while still being straightforward to install and use. The unique two-position base allows the seat belt routing to be the same whether the seat is in its rearward-facing position or forward-facing position - making it much easier to strap in than many other car seats!Don’t feel forced into a forward-facing car seat too early - the Opal is a great transitional seat for longer, larger and faster growing children. The base is designed with a tilt at the optimal angle - giving your baby maximum leg room in its rearward facing position to enjoy maximum

safety for longer. When forward facing, the Maxi-Cosi Opal offers even greater flexibility with five reclining positions from sitting to sleeping while still maintaining optimum protection. The large padded support pillow included will keep your newborn as

comfortable and snug as possible, and as they grow the height and width can be adjusted. Once the baby in your care is truly ready for the forward facing position the car seat can turn on its base to be used as a forward facing car seat, until your child is approximately 18kg.RRP: £220

A group 0+/1 car seat that can be used from birth until your child is three and a half years

Across1. Corrie character, Steve _________ (8)5. Steve _________ aka Eastenders’ Phil Mitchell (8)10. Social network site (8)11. Popular Carribbean holiday destination (8)

Down1. A short reminder (4)2. Skillful (4)3. Skin colour (4)4. Winter vegetable (4)6. Born this way, hit by Lady ____ (4)7. Basil or parsley, for example (4)8. Daniel Craig, aka James ____ (4)9. Winter holiday - don’t forget your ____ (4)

How many words can you make using the letters in the box below?You can only use each letter once, but they can be used in any order. There is at least one nine-letter word to be found!

P R S

L C A

E H I

COMPETITION


inspiring and practical trainingdesigned for foster carers by foster carers

“A must for all foster carers… a total privilege to attend”Judith Oliver, Foster Carer,

Barnardo’s West Midlands

Kate Cairns is internationally recognised as a lively and inspiring speaker and trainer. Her books, such as Attachment, Trauma

and Resilience, have become widely known and highly regarded.Together with her associates (including Liza Lomax , Jo McAndrews and Fiona Cadwaladr) Kate delivers the best-evaluated foster care training in the UK.

SIGN UP to receive information about all our future events

www.katecairns.com

knowledge that changes lives

open events include…Relationships Build Brains (the impact of early childhood experience)Bristol, September 2011

London , February 2012

New Patterns (parent and child placements)Bristol, October 2011London, October 2011Stirling , October 2011

Beyond Reason (trauma and antisocial behaviour)London, December 2011

… and many more to come

foster families magazine autumn 2011 sample

Documents

attachment disorder

living attachment

foster families magazine

attachment issues

changing attachment

foster carers

higher education

welcome autumn