Key Takeaways This post guides parents and carers of looked after children on nurturing leadership skills, focusing on confidence, empathy, communication, and self-control, rather than traditional 'in charge' roles. It emphasizes that these 'inner skills' are crucial for...
```html "Staying Put" is an arrangement that allows a young person to continue living with their former foster carers after they turn 18. Instead of being required to move out into independent living on their 18th birthday, this arrangement enables them to remain in a stable, familiar environment...
This comprehensive guide explores the critical ‘Coming Home: A Guide to the Reunification Process’, detailing its phases, the essential support systems, and the collaborative efforts required to safely return children from out-of-home care to their families, ensuring long-term stability and well-being.
In the world of social care and education, the safety of children is not just a priority—it’s the foundation of everything we do. As someone who has navigated the complexities of the care system both professionally and through lived experience, I know that having a clear point of contact for...
A comprehensive guide to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for families and professionals, covering referrals, services, and support for young people’s mental health.
What is an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)? An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) is a qualified and experienced social worker responsible for chairing the statutory reviews of a looked-after child’s care plan. Their primary legal duty is to ensure that the local authority is meeting the...
If you are caring for a looked-after child, or you are a professional new to the sector, the acronyms can feel endless. But the Personal Education Plan (PEP) is one of the most vital tools we have. In my years of experience, both living through the care system and working within it, I’ve seen PEP...
Hearing the words "Emergency Protection Order" can be one of the most terrifying moments in a parent's life. Everything moves fast—social workers, police, courts—and it can feel like you have absolutely no control. At Looked After Child, we believe that even in the scariest moments, knowledge is...
Whether you are a foster carer, a residential childcare worker, or a connected person, understanding the statutory review process is vital. These meetings are not just administrative checkpoints; they are the moments where we ensure a child is safe, happy, and thriving. Here are the most...
```html If you are care-experienced, or working in the sector, you’ve probably heard people throwing numbers around like they are nicknames. "He’s on a Section 20," or "We’re going for a Section 31." When you are the young person in the middle of it, these numbers can feel like labels that define...
```html If you look strictly at my output for 2025, you might say I failed. I published only one blog post. I attended zero events. My referral traffic—usually a sign of active networking—dropped by 98%. But failures are rarely just "failures." Often, they are just trade-offs. I want to share my...
Looked After Children deserve a better outcome in life Lets change the way Children Services operate, by offering a new approach to the care we provide to young people in the care system. What is Looked After Child Limited?From the UK. this website shares Life Story Work, Blog Posts About Looked...