Health

Keeping children healthy is an important part of caring for children and is even more important when a child may not have had the best care earlier in their life.

It is important that fostering services are aware of the needs of foster carers in relation to keeping children healthy and work with foster carers and others such as LAC nurses to ensure that children are healthy.

We provide a range of resources and publications around health. Staff at organisations that are members of the Fostering Network should log in to access exclusive members-only resources.

View our resources on Health

Publications

Health (2009)

For many foster carers, medical matters can be an intimidating and confusing prospect, as they have to navigate not only the questions of responsibility, but also specific conditions they may not have encountered before, as well as the need to provide those in their care with an understanding of healthy eating and lifestyles. By enabling foster carers to develop an understanding of their role, we can help them to provide better support for children and young people in their care.

Order Health online
Health activity sheet (2009)

This is the activity sheet that accompanies the Pathways through Fostering publication Health.

Download Health activity sheet
HIV and AIDS (2007)

This Signpost booklet provides information on HIV and AIDS for foster carers. It gives clear guidance on matters such as hygiene, confidentiality and family contact. It also addresses other issues raised by HIV and AIDS including prejudice of those who are misinformed and encourages the reader to examine their own thoughts and preconceptions.

Order HIV and AIDS online
Medical matters (2008)

Foster carers take responsibility for the day to day health and well-being of the children and young people in foster care. This Signpost booklet provides information on health matters.

Order Medical matters online
Medical treatment card (2005)

These cards, available in packs of ten, allow fostering services and parents to pass on the right to sign for medical treatment to foster carers.

Order Medical Treatment Cards online
Pathways through fostering: complete set (2009)

This complete set of the Pathways Through Fostering will give foster carers the practical advice and information they need on six key topics: Safer Caring: a new approach, Behaviour, Health, Education, Contact and Attachment

Face to face and online training is also available on each of these topics.

The pack contains six different publications

Order Pathways through fostering: complete set online
Pathways through fostering: training guide (2010)

A professional development curriculum for post-approval foster carers.

Programme of training courses to enable trainers to deliver the six Pathways Through Fostering courses: Attachment, Behaviour, Contact, Education, Health and Safer Caring.

Order Pathways through fostering: training guide online

The Fostering Network's position

Foster care and smoking: joint position statement (2009)

This brief sets out the joint position of the Smokefree Action Coalition and the Fostering Network in relation to foster care and smoking.

It is intended to describe the shared policy position of those organisations working to protect the public’s health and those working to protect the welfare and interests of foster children. It also outlines two recommendations for local authorities to consider when creating policy in this area.

Download Foster care and smoking: joint position statement

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