Looked-After Children
The national picture for looked-after children:
- At any one time, around 60,000 children are in care within the UK
- Most children – 80% – enter care, because of abuse or neglect, or for family reasons
- Less than 10% enter care because of their own behaviour
- Two thirds live in foster care and 1 in 10 in children’s homes
This event focuses on the latest developments in improving the lives of children in care and reducing the pressures toward social exclusion. Examining the Care Matters White Paper, the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 and highlighting national examples of excellence and best practice, we aim to provide practical tips and information to:
- Enhance the lives of children in your care
- Maintain stable placements for looked-after children
- Work with partners from local authorities and health more effectively
- Discover how you can help looked-after children reach their potential in education
- Effectively fulfil the role of a good corporate parent.
Pre-conference half-day workshop: Tuesday 29 September 2009, 1.30pm
The Authentic Warmth Dimension of Professional Childcare
Introducing the idea of ‘parenting’ not just caring, changing the way we see care as a childhood rather than a placement
Workshop Leaders: Colin Maginn and Dr Sean Cameron, Pillars of Parenting
13:30 Delegate registration and refreshments
14:00 Workshop leaders’ introductions and admin
14:10 Start of proceedings
The implementation of the 8 Pillars of Parenting, which form part of ‘The Authentic Warmth’ model of professional childcare, were originally created by Colin Maginn, Dr Sean Cameron and their staff team.
Pillars of Parenting
The 8 Pillars of Parenting have also been specifically devised to incorporate the five outcomes from the every child matters (DfES, 2003) .Below is a list of the 8 Pillars of Parenting with a basic summary of each:
1. Primary care and protection
Sensitivity to a child’s basic needs shows the child that we care and that they are important. Education is paramount because in our complex world, knowledge and skills are essential to survival.
2. Secure attachments: making close relationships
Secure attachments act as a buffer against risk and operate as a protective mechanism.
3. Positive self-perception
To allow the child to develop a positive self image. Positive and negative statements have a powerful impact on self-perception and esteem.
4. Emotional competence
This ability underpins the successful development of relationships outside of the family and can moderate susceptibility to the propensity for later mental health problems.
5. Self-management skills
Self-image is the insulation, which prevents inappropriate behaviour when enticing or compelling negative factors try to intrude.
6. Resilience
Resilient individuals are able to understand what has happened to them in life (insight) develop understanding of others (empathy) and experience a quality of life that is often denied to others who have suffered negative life experiences (achievement).
7. A sense of belonging
Research and theory on relationships have highlighted a sense of belonging as a basic human need.
8. Personal and social responsibilities
Essentially, personal and social responsibility means being able to coordinate one’s own perspective with the help of others and developing personal views of fairness and reciprocity.
15:30 Tea / Coffee break
17:00 End of workshop
