Children’s and Young Person’s Welcome Resources
These online publications are to help young people settle in when they first come into Five Rivers’ foster care. Most of the guides were made in collaboration with children and young people and show how we engage them in the design and delivery of the fostering service.
Children’s and Young Person’s Guides to Fostering
Within the National Minimum Standards for Fostering we are required to provide each and every child or young person with a ‘Children’s Guide’ that is relevant and appropriate to the age of that child.
Children’s Guide to Fostering for age 3 – 10
A bright, friendly and age appropriate guide to show children when they first enter fostering care.
Young Person’s Guide to Fostering for age 11 – 17
An engaging and colourful guide for young people to help them understand what to expect, what rights they have and what opportunities they can access through our Fostering Services.
Five Rivers Welcome Films
Guides in audio-visual form.
https://issuu.com/fiveriverschildcare/docs/welcome_linksforfilms-corrected_2Guides to Participation
We ensure opportunities for children and young people to review and evaluate the fostering service they receive. In order for children and young people to actively get involved, they need to understand that their participation is valued and their views will be taken seriously. We want to give all children the same opportunities to be included in the decision making that affects their lives.
Your Voice Your Say Leaflet
A Children’s Guide to the Complaint System
A Children’s Guide to Privacy
Resources Created by Our Young People
Above all, participation should be fun. We encourage our young people’s creative contribution and recognise and reward it.
These are some additional resources created with the input of young people who are looked after, and the children of the fostering families.
Forever Family
A heartwarming guide on what to expect for sons and daughters of families that are new to fostering. By Ruby Macey, a daughter of a Five Rivers Fostering Family.
Fostered – The Inside Story
A collection of poems and illustrations by our young people. The book was edited by Kieran, a young person in Five Rivers’ care.
Notes for staff and carers
As child care workers and Foster Carers we have an obligation to ensure that children and young people have access to information that is important to them. They should have the right to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, the views being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child. (Ref: UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12).
Foster Carers or workers should guide young people to access and understand the guides at a time and in a way that suits them as an individual.
Anyone, including children, can access all the guides online at issuu.com/fiveriverschildcare but carers must make sure that children fully understand all the information.
When do you need to use them?
Depending on the circumstances and well-being of the child, you are best placed to identify the most suitable time to sit with a young person and slowly run through the guides. You may wish to look at just one piece of information at a time or when questions spontaneously arise as time goes by.
How do you evidence you’ve used it?
Once you have shared the information and resources with your child or young person you need to tell your supervisor and they will upload this information onto CHARMS. It is a requirement that this happens as soon as possible and then can be revisited at any point.
If a child needs a translation of this information, please let your manager know.
If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact our National Participation & Engagement Officer (children and young people) on: participation@five-rivers.org