A Practical Guide to Fostering Law: Fostering Regulations, Child Care Law and the Youth Justice System

by Davis, Lynn; Simmonds, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9781849050920
• ISBN10: 1849050929
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-09-15
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub

Summary

A Practical Guide to Fostering Law is an accessible, jargon-free guide to the key elements of the law that concern foster carers and the professionals who work with them. It aims to help foster carers understand where they fit into the complex web of regulations surrounding childcare and to demystify the jargon and terminology which is often used but rarely explained. The book covers the laws in England and Wales governing fostering agencies and foster carers themselves, including foster carers' rights, and the formalities of placement procedures. It also provides explanations of care proceedings, the foster carer as a witness, what happens if a young fostered person gets into trouble, and moving on from foster care. The last section provides a 'who's who' of the main professionals involved and a jargon-busting glossary of the key terms often used. It also includes illustrative case examples and each chapter concludes with suggestions for where to find more information. This guide will be an invaluable resource for current and prospective foster carers and the professionals who work with them, such as support workers, social workers and foster agency staff.

Author Biography

Lynn Davis is a Consultant for Davis, Simmonds Donaghey Solicitors in Kent, UK. She has specialised in child care law since 1989, acting as a solicitor for local authorities, parents and children. She provides legal training for foster carers and social workers and others involved in child protection, including the Kent Safeguarding Children Board. She has also taught on the law module for student social workers. She is the author of See You in Court and The Social Worker's Guide to Children and Families Law, both published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. 5
Foreword	p. 9
Preface	p. 11
Introduction	p. 13
Agencies and Carers	p. 15
Foster Care and Fostering Agencies	p. 17
Becoming a Foster Carer	p. 25
Placements	p. 40
Carers' Rights, Allegations and Ending Fostering	p. 48
Fostered Children and Child Care Law	p. 63
Basics of Child Care Law	p. 65
Looked After Children	p. 75
Care Proceedings	p. 86
The Foster Carer as Witness	p. 99
Duties towards Looked After Children	p. 111
Contact	p. 128
Fostered Children and the Criminal Law	p. 137
The Criminal System - Some Legal Basics	p. 139
The Criminal Process	p. 148
Reprimands, Warnings and Court	p. 161
Sentencing	p. 171
Anti-Social Behaviour	p. 186
Young Victims and Witnesses - Evidence and Compensation	p. 191
Long-Term Plans	p. 207
Long-Term Placements	p. 209
Moving to Independence	p. 217
Jargon Buster	p. 224
Resources	p. 233
Index	p. 236
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