Safer Caring: A New Approach

Impressing from the outset, this book reiterates the need to be “risk sensible as opposed to risk averse” with regard to safeguarding. With quotes from foster carers, other professionals and children throughout, the author helps to bring the subject to life without the need for jargon.

The chapter on creating a secure base to act as a protective factor for the child is especially insightful. It provides a great deal of easy-reading theory to enable foster carers to put ideas into practice. Reference is made to issues of diversity and the challenges single carers may face.

However, some of the writing and phrases are a little ambiguous. For example, the foreword describes children in placements as experiencing “enormous difficulties”. Rather than omitting the concept of trauma, it may be more realistic to emphasise that the main reasons children come into care can be due to abuse and neglect. Also, the chapter covering sexuality falls short, as it fails to caution foster carers about the need to gain consent before discussing the subject within the fostering family.

Overall however, the book is an excellent read and is a valuable reference work for foster carers.

Reviewed by Gill Cutter, learning and development manager and Helen Stanley, learning and development officer, Pathway Care, part of the Fostering Solutions group