Parents and carers, especially foster carers, kinship carers, and the social workers supporting looked after children and care leavers, often carry a heavy mix of daily pressures and big hopes for the future. When trauma, mental health challenges, unstable housing, and stigma are in the...
Emotional Regulation
Techniques and strategies to help children manage and express their emotions constructively.
What is a Waking Night Shift in Residential Childcare?
A waking night shift is a period of professional duty where a staff member remains fully awake and alert throughout the night to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and emotional support of children in a residential setting. Unlike a "sleep-in" shift, the staff member does not go to bed; they are...
What Does a Sleep-In Shift Involve?
A sleep-in shift typically begins in the evening and ends the following morning. While the staff member is there to rest, they are "on-call" to respond immediately to any incidents, emotional distress, or emergencies that arise during the night. Key Features of a Sleep-In: Presence and Safety: The...
How to Build Resilience While Living in Care: Your Guide to Staying Strong
Growing up in care comes with a unique set of challenges, but it also gives you a chance to build incredible inner strength. Building resilience in care means developing the ability to bounce back from difficult situations, manage stress, and keep moving forward toward your goals. While it might...
Understanding Solo and Complex Placements in Social Care: A Guide for the Care Community
In the landscape of social care, few topics carry as much weight—or as much misunderstanding—as solo and complex placements. As someone who has lived through the care system and now advocates within it, I know that when a child is moved into a solo setting, it can feel isolating for the young...
CAMHS: A Complete Guide for Families and Professionals
If you are reading this, you are likely worried about a child. Maybe you are a parent watching your son retreat into himself, a foster carer dealing with trauma responses you can't quite soothe, or a social worker trying to secure funding for a placement. I know that feeling in the pit of your...
How to Nurture Your Child’s Natural Curiosity at Home: a Guide for UK Parents
Parents in the UK are in a powerful position to shape how their children feel about learning for the rest of their lives. Long before GCSEs, SATs or Ofsted reports, curiosity starts (and can be quietly snuffed out) at home. This guide is about how you can protect that spark and help your child...
Unleashing Creative Spirits: Guiding Children with Learning Disabilities Through Art
Discovering the art world offers profound therapeutic benefits for children with learning disabilities. It’s a powerful medium for self-expression and fosters an environment where inclusivity flourishes. By embracing the arts, you can unlock possibilities for your child, providing them a platform...
Help Your Child Recharge and Grow With These Mindful Practices for Well-Being
In our relentlessly fast-paced world, you play a crucial role in steering children towards activities that promote relaxation and mindfulness. Your exploration into these simple yet deeply impactful activities is key to enhancing the well-being of young minds. You are instrumental in nurturing a...
Supporting Looked After Children and Young Adults With Technology.
the times are changing, and it is important that we adapt to technology in our work to provide better support for Children in care. by using the following websites and applications we will be able to support young people with expressing there emotions and feelings, finding out about the care offers, building resilience and to handle there mental health. this can be done inside there own home and room. on technology that they are very familiar with. and allows people who struggle with speaking about their to empower themselves to get / find help when its most needed.
Am I Impacted by Generational Trauma, and How to Get Help?
Generational trauma refers to the traumatic experiences that are passed down from one generation to the next. This trauma can have lasting impacts on individuals, communities, and even entire societies. In this article, we will explore the signs and symptoms of generational trauma and provide you...
12 Self-Care Fundamentals for Introverts
Being an introvert can be challenging in day-to-day life, especially if you work and have other commitments outside of the home. Fortunately, there are countless self-care activities and habits for fostering your health and well-being. If you are socially burned out, here are 12 tips from Looked After Child to brighten your day!











