TTT managing contact cover

Ten top tips on managing contact eBook only

The Ten Top Tips series considers some of the fundamental themes in child care practice in concise, practical guides ideal for busy practitioners.

In recent years the idea of separated children maintaining some form of contact with their birth relatives has risen rapidly up the practice agenda. But it is not always an easy process to establish contact arrangements, or to keep them running smoothly and successfully for both the child and carers or parents.

This accessible quick reference guide looks at some fundamental positive steps that can be taken to ensure that contact is a beneficial experience.

Who is this book for?

This user-friendly guide provides information and advice for social workers, adopters and carers.

What you will find in this book

Each of the ten chapters presents a basic “tip” in an accessible and straightforward style, including:

  • Being clear about the purpose of contact
  • Agreeing what’s going to work best for the needs of the individual child
  • Putting systems in place to facilitate the contact
  • Keeping memories and histories alive
  • Preparing children individually for contact
  • Supporting children to manage expectations
  • Preparing and supporting adopters, foster carers and birth families
  • Choosing venues and activities carefully
  • Keeping the approach flexible and exploring alternatives if things are not working out
  • Keeping contact alive by offering ongoing support

The emphasis is on evidence from practice and experience and useful checklists are provided throughout.

Author

Henrietta Bond is a freelance journalist, media consultant and writer, specialising in children and family issues. She has authored several books for CoramBAAF/BAAF including Thinking about fostering?, Control freak and Ten top tips on managing contact.

This book is available as an eBook only. It can be downloaded free by CoramBAAF members from the members’ area of the website or purchased below.

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Reviews

Simply written and concise, this book would be a good starting point for new practitioners, who may be faced with complex decisions about contact arrangements.

Jules Clarke, adoption social worker