Addresses the psychological and emotional health of children in care, including support, resources, and therapeutic interventions.
This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the CAMHS referral process, from recognising the need for support to preparing for the first appointment, designed to help families and professionals navigate accessing crucial mental health services for children and young people.
Explore a comprehensive guide to the rights of children in care, covering legal frameworks, essential protections, and the roles of professionals in safeguarding their future and promoting well-being.
Explore comprehensive, evidence-based advanced social work interventions designed to maximize impact for children in care, focusing on trauma-informed, systemic, and attachment-based approaches for transformative outcomes.
Social Learning Theory, pioneered by Albert Bandura, establishes that individuals learn behaviors, emotional reactions, and attitudes through the observation and imitation of others. For professionals and carers looking after children, this theory is not just an academic concept; it is the...
Tier 1: Physiological Needs (The Foundation of Survival) In a traditional sense, physiological needs include air, water, food, shelter, sleep, and clothing. In a residential or foster care setting, these are the baseline statutory requirements. However, providing these elements is only the first...
Social pedagogy is a holistic framework for working with children and young people that integrates education and care into a single professional practice . It focuses on the "head, heart, and hands" to support the development of the whole person through meaningful, everyday relationships . In the...
Attachment theory is the fundamental psychological framework used to understand how the quality of early relationships between a child and their primary caregiver dictates the child's lifelong emotional, social, and cognitive development . For professionals in the social care sector—including...
```html Semi-independent care is a structured, transitional accommodation provision designed for young people—typically aged 16 to 18—who are preparing to leave the statutory care system. It bridges the critical gap between heavily supported placements, such as foster care or children's homes, and...
Introduction: What are Looked After Children? Looked After Children, also known as children in care, are individuals who are placed under the care and supervision of the local authority. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including neglect, abuse, or the inability of parents or guardians to...
```html Looked After Child (LAC) Health Assessments are statutory clinical evaluations designed to ensure that children in care receive the same standard of healthcare as their peers, with specific attention to the unique health needs arising from their life experiences. These assessments are a...
```html As the Director of Looked After Child Limited, I have spent over seven years on the frontline—from NVQ Level 4 leadership to the daily realities of managing a residential home . I have seen the "paper trail" of a child's life fail them repeatedly during transitions . In 2026, we are...
An unauthorised absence is any instance when a child is not where she/he should be. This includes the foster home, school, an authorised activity venue, etc. The police do not need to be informed of an unauthorised absence unless their wearabouts / reason is unknown or their is an risk of harm at the known location.
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