Life Story Work
Life story work can help children to make sense of their past, gain a balanced understanding of their present and, as an ongoing process, plan for a healthy & stable future.
It is a valuable process, as highlighted in the National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services, in enabling children/young people to feel connected with significant people and places, their family of origin and their heritage.
The production of a life story book means that information can be conveyed to the child/young person at appropriate times throughout their lives, exploring changing perspectives as different issues arise or resurface. It can also encourage the child/young person and future carers to continue adding information.
FCA uses skilled staff and a range of materials and resources to undertake life story work and produce life story books, which can be commissioned for a child/young person in an FCA foster placement.
FCA provides the following services:Production of Life Story Tool
This includes researching the child’s/young person’s history, involving significant people to have an input in the life story book, thereby giving the child/young person a more balanced picture of their lives, and the production of a Life Story book and photo album which can also be provided in CD-Rom / DVD format.
Work through the life work process with children and young people
In addition to the production of the Life Story Tool, qualified FCA staff can work with the children/young people to help resolve strong emotions about past events, especially those related to separation or loss experiences through the most appropriate programme. This can be done within a therapy setting, involving carers, social workers, and birth family members, as appropriate.
These services will be negotiated in partnership with the local authority and priced on a case-by-case basis.
For further details contact afshan.ahmad@thefca.co.uk or suzanne.mcgladdery@thefca.co.uk.
Our website is currently being updated and additional info on LIfe Story Work will be added soon.....
