Support of foster parents (QUALED-02-EN)

A couple who will be taking a child into foster care come to the meeting with a worker from the Department of Social and Legal Protection of Children of the Office for Social and Legal Protection of Children. The child is a three and a half year old boy, who was removed from his biological mother's family a week ago because of neglect (the biological mother is in custody due to suspicion of child abuse). The boy has been placed in residential care for a temporary period, and following a court order, he will be entrusted to the brother of the biological mother in the next few days and his wife. These foster parents have children of their own who are high school age, both working, and have no experience caring for a child with trauma. At the orphanage where the boy was now, they were advised to put him in a day-care as soon as possible at the new residence.

The social office worker initiated the creation of a network of professionals involved in family and child support so that before the child's arrival the foster parents have at least basic information about the possible behaviour and needs of a child with experienced trauma and then intensive support after the child's arrival;

The foster parents were recommended by the officials to receive outpatient services at the Centre for Children and Families, which specialises in foster parenting and working with children with trauma.

Labour and social office staff supported the foster parents to allow the foster mother to stay at home with the child on parental leave. They delayed the start of the child's attendance at the Nursery School, to create a relationship with the child so that she has sufficient capacity to provide therapeutic interventions for the child.

The staff of the benefits department of the same office proactively explained to the foster parents what social benefits they are entitled to in foster care, thus supporting the foster parents in their decision to temporarily leave the mother's job and care for the child at home.

When cooperating with the police in the investigation of child abuse, the office staff and the professional team insisted on a form of questioning that minimises the re-traumatisation of the child, providing suitable premises appropriate for the child's questioning with the possibility of recording, conducting the questioning by a psychologist specialising in child violence, etc.

Immediate advice and assistance was provided by the Office staff in dealing with the administrative matters relating to the placement of the child within a foster family, in order to reduce the burden on the family so that it can concentrate on supporting the child.

QUALED (with consultation of Eva Stanková, special pedagogue, Návrat)