Recommended reading for foster carers
Many of these publications will be kept by Plymouth Fostercare who will be happy to lend them to approved foster carers. It is also possible to order specific books to borrow from public libraries.
Books for foster carers
- 'Someone Else's Child' by Olive Stephenson, published by Routledge and Kegan Paul - An account of the differences between life for the ‘ordinary’ child and the young foster child.
- 'Getting to Know You' by Elaine Aston and Jim Bray, published by BAAF - A humorous book giving a real feeling of fostering, by people who know what it is all about.
- 'A Child's Journey Through Placement' by Vera Fahlberg, published by BAAF - Children in placement commonly experience separation, loss, grief and change. How do those charged with the responsibility of planning for these children address their needs? A Child's Journey Through Placement contains the theoretical knowledge base and skills necessary for understanding, working with and planning for children and their families. Clear, informative and full of practical ideas and case examples, this is an essential reference book.
- 'Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss' by Claudia Jewett, published by BAAF - This book follows a study that was carried out with three local authorities in the north of England of 61 young people in foster care, 56 foster carers and social workers and managers from the local authorities. It considers how foster carers and young people in foster care solve problems, and examines the role of representation and complaints procedures within foster care.
- 'Attachment Trauma and Resilience: Therapeutic Caring For Children' by Kate Cairns, published by BAAF - Kate Cairns is a social worker by profession who has also, over a 25 year period, along with her husband and birth children, fostered 12 other children who remain part of their family group. In this book she draws on the wealth of her personal and professional experience into family life with children who have experienced attachment difficulties, loss, abuse and trauma and shows in a range of everyday situations how the family responded to the powerful feelings and difficult behaviours the children displayed.
- 'Adopting or Fostering a Sexually Abused Child' by Catherine Macaskill, published by BAAF - This book describes the findings of a 1989 research project covering 80 placements of abused children. It discusses the implications for everyone involved, from the trauma of allegations and helping children talk about their experiences, to the impact on other children in the family.
- 'Keeping Safe' by M. Elliot, published by Bedford Square Press - Suggests ways of coping with potentially dangerous situations, from answering upsetting telephone calls and dealing with bullies to preventing sexual abuse.
- 'Safer Caring' by Sheila Bray, published by The Fostering Network - This book offers practical advice that can help to make a foster home a safer place for all its members. Its emphasis is on safer caring when children have, or may have, been sexually abused.
- 'Behaviour Can Change' by E Westmacott and R J Cameron, published by Macmillan - Contains many practical ideas about handling difficult behaviour. Straightforward and humorous.
- 'The Foster Carer's Handbook' by Ann Wheal in consultation with the Fostering Network, BAAF and CCETSW, published by Russell House Publishing - Practical information on all aspects of fostering.
- 'Fostering' by Fergus Smith and Chris Brann, published by CAE Ltd. - This publication provides a clear and accurate account of the National Minimum Standards and Fostering Services Regulations, which together now represent the foundation of all fostering services. [Back to top]
Books for children
- 'We are Fostering' by Jean Camis, published by BAAF - Birth children in foster families have to share their homes and parents with new arrivals who come with varying problems and needs, take time to adjust and take parental attention away from them. This colourful and durable workbook will help birth children to know themselves, their history and their role in the family and prepare them to welcome new arrivals into their homes.
- 'Nutmeg Gets Adopted' by Judith Foxon, published by BAAF - A story book for children illustrated in full colour, which tells the story of Nutmeg, a little squirrel and his younger sister and brother who go to live with a new family after their birth mother realises she cannot keep them safe. It offers a practical way in which to help children explore and understand some of the very painful memories they will have of their early life. A comprehensive set of practice guidelines accompanies the story.
- 'My Life and Me' by Jean Camis, published by BAAF - This colourful and comprehensive life story work book will help children living apart from their family of origin develop and record memories and recollections of their past and their birth family. Carrying out life story work gives separated children a structured and understandable way of talking about themselves that helps to build a sense of self-worth and understanding of the present in terms of their earlier experiences. The book is presented in a durable ring bound format, which can be used flexibly by any child. Practice guidelines contained in a flap in the back of the book will help social workers and foster carers, or anyone doing life story work with a child, understand the significance of completing each section.
- 'Going Into Care - Dennis Duckling - Books 1 and 2' by Simon James and Barbara Ollitt, published by Church of England Children’s Society - The story of Dennis Duckling who has to leave his own pond to live with a family on another pond. Suitable for use with very young children.
- 'Joey' by R and D Van der Meer, published by Heinemann/Fostering Network - Tells how Joey had to be fostered for a short while and then returned home.
- 'One of the Family' by Joy Haslan and Oonagh Hughes, published by Westminster City Council - Scenes of family life to prepare children with no experience of family life for fostering.
- 'Bruce's Story' by Maureen Thom and Celia Macliver, published by Church of England Children’s Society - Children who have suffered disruption in their lives identify with some of Bruce’s experiences.
- 'Bruce's Multimedia Story' by Maureen Thom and Celia Macliver, published by Church of England Children’s Society - Bruce’s Multimedia Story raises the same issues about identity and change as the original book but the electronic version capitalises on children’s natural interest in computer-based activities. Suitable for children aged 5-10.
- 'Family Talk - Picture sheet for children whose family is adopting or fostering' by Celia Macliver and Maureen Thom, published by BAAF - This picture pack can be used for children aged 6 and 11 and is designed to help them to talk about family life and understand the implications of a new brother or sister joining their family.
- 'Talking Moving Pictures - Trigger pictures to help children talk about moves in their life' by Hilary Alton, published by BAAF 1987 - These pictures help children talk about moves in their life, covering a variety of topics such as different types of family homes, different standards and family arguments. Pictures can be coloured in.
- 'Talking Pictures - Trigger pictures to help children talk about themselves' by Philip King, published by BAAF - This picture pack contains a booklet with guidelines for use and three sets of picture sheets. It is a practical tool to aid social workers and carers in communicating with children. The drawings can be filled in by the child, thus promoting discussion.
- 'My Story Series' by Sheila Byrne and Leigh Chambers, published by BAAF - This series of work books help children who are separated from their birth families to make sense of their experiences and individual history. Each book can be used flexibly and creatively with children to help them explore feelings and come to terms with their past and prepare them for the future.
- 'Waiting for the right home - Daniel's story' - A story about being in short term foster care while waiting to go home.
- 'Joining together - Jo's story' - A story about a step-parent adoption.
- 'Feeling Safe - Tina's story' - A story about a girl who has to go into foster care following abuse in the home.
- 'Living with a New Family - Nadia and Rashid's story' - A story about a brother and sister being adopted.
- 'Belonging doesn’t mean forgetting - Nathan's story' - A story about a 4 year old boy being adopted.
- 'Hoping for the best - Jack's story' - A story about an adoption that did not work out. [Back to top]
Quarterly publications
- 'Adoption and Fostering' - The Journal of the British Agency for Fostering and Adoption
- 'Foster Care' - The Magazine of the Fostering Network
BAAF and the Fostering Network both produce publication lists, which your supervising social worker will be able to lend you. There are also an increasing number of videos about fostering available.
Useful leaflets
If you do not already have the following, it is strongly recommended that you obtain them through your supervising social worker:
- Fostering Network's Signposts
- The Children Act 1989
- Foster Care Placement - Regulations and Guidance
Departmental publications
- Fostering Allowances and Other Payments booklet
- Children's Guide – 'Foster Care for Me' (available in versions for children under eight and children over eight, and in English, Kurdish, Arabic or Portuguese, or on audio tape)
- Complaints leaflet
- Access to records leaflet
