Links

This page contains external links we hope you find useful. To return to this website simply close the external link browser window. Links were correct at time of posting. If you find one that does not work, or would like to suggest a usefull link, please email Chris direct at chris@chrisandariane.com

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Subject	Title	URL and Description
Support	Adoption UK	www.adoptionuk.org/ Supporting adoptive families before, during and after adoption Back to index
Training	Advanced Skills in Foster Care	`www.akamas.co.uk/001.cfm?type=training&active=yes&title=Advanced%20Skills%20in%20Foster%20Care:%20Level%203`New Level 3 BTEC certificate is a Vocationally Related Qualification, signposted to the new-specification NVQ and delivered and assessed online. The course is targeted at developing essential skills for foster carers and is fully endorsed by BAAF.
Support	Advice for Teenagers	www.need2know.co.uk/ Portal for young people with advice on a wide range of subjects: Health, Money, Travel, Relationships, Education, Work, Housing...
Support	Allegation Survey	www.fostering.net/questionnaires/?id=17 Fostering network questionnaire about carers who have suffered allegations
Regulations	Appropriate Adult	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/guidanceappadultscustody.pdf Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) (qv) code of practice. When a young person is questioned by the police it mst be done in the presence of an "Appropriate Adult" which in many cases is the foster carer. Do you know what to do?
Support	Barnardo's	http://www.barnardos.org.uk/ News about the organisation's latest research and campaigns, including tackling children abused through prostitution. Back to index
Support	Bedwetting	www.eric.org.uk Education and resources for improving childhood continence
Support	Best Treatments	http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/home.jsp British Medical Journal website with detailed advice on everything from Absence Seizures to Wisdon Teeth, (impacted)
Support	Bullying	www.bbc.co.uk/schools/bullying/ Advice from the BBC on dealing with bullies
Support	Bullying	www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying/ Government advice on dealing with bullying
Support	Bullying and Child Safety	www.kidscape.org.uk/download/download.shtml Downloadable resources to help adults keep children safe and deal with bullies
Regulations	Cafcass	http://www.cafcass.gov.uk/ This website sets out the work of the children and families courts advisory and support service, whose staff represent children in the family courts and ensure their best interests are taken into account.Back to index
Financial	CF411	www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/forms/cf411.pdf Application form for applying for Home Responsibilities Protection (qv).
Regulations	Child Car Seats	`http://www.dft.gov.uk /stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents /page/dft_rdsafety_611257.hcsp` Government regulations on Child seats and safety belts in cars
Support	Child Line	http://www.childline.org.uk/ Information on child abuse, suicide and child safety on the internet.
Financial	Child Trust Fund	www.childtrustfund.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en Savings account for children. Government credits it with £250 at birth which cannot be touched for 18 years
Reading	Children and Families in Reading	www.reading.gov.uk/AZEntry.asp?id=SX9452-A780D7F7 Information about services co-ordinated by Reading Social Services to protect and promote their welfare/development of Reading children and support their families.
Regulations	Children's Act	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/Ukpga_19890041_en_1.htm This act gives every child the right to protection from abuse and exploitation and the right to have inquiries made to safeguard their welfare.
Support	Childrens' commissioner	www.childrenscommissioner.org/ Professor Al Aynsley-Green has been appointed as the Children's Commissioner. This is a new role designed to give a national voice to all children and young people, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable.
Regulations	Children's Commissioner	http://society.guardian.co.uk/children/story/0,1074,1218832,00.html There are now three children's commissioners in the UK: covering Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland respectively. At present only the commissioners for Wales and Northern Ireland have websites. Since they don't all have websites the link is to a Guardian fact sheet.
Regulations	Children's National Service Framework	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/ChildrenServices/ChildrenServicesInformation/fs/en This website sets out the work of the national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services, which aims to raise standards of care for children in the NHS and social services.
Support	Children's Society	http://www.the-childrens-society.org.uk/ Information on young carers, child health and young runaways, as well as the charity's work and conferences.
Regulations	Children's Trusts	http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/aims/childrenstrusts/ This site sets out the government's plans to pilot children's trusts, new local organisations bringing together education and children's health and social services.
Support	Connexions	http://www.connexions.gov.uk/ This site explains the work and aims of Connexions, which provides 13-19 year olds with personal and careers advice.
Regulations	Copyright Visually Impaired Persons Act	www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020033.htm Legislation requiring copyright information to be available to visually impaired people
Regulations	DfES: Adoption	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/adoption/ The DfES adoption website includes news on the new Adoption Act, national adoption standards and the adoption register. Back to index
Regulations	DfES: Children's Services	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/childrenandfamilies/ The DfES now holds responsibility for children's social services, as well as early years development programmes, teenage pregnancy, careers advice, family policy and family and parenting law.
Disabled	Disabled Children Post 16	www.after16.org.uk/index.html For teenagers and young people who have an impairment or disability and are wondering about opportunities and services when they leave school.
Regulations	Education Act 1996	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/1996056.htm The Full Monty for those who require chapter and verse Back to index
Regulations	Education for Children in care (Full Report)	www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=32 Full Government report "A better Education for Children in care " (110 pages)
Regulations	Education for Children in care (Summary)	www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=42 13 - page summary of Government report "A better Education for Children in care "
Regulations	Education Protects	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/educationprotects/ This website, about the government's guidance on the education of children and young people in care, sets out current policy and methods to raise standards.
Training	Electronic Library for Social Care	www.elsc.org.uk/ eLSC is a free online resource owned and managed by the Social Care Institute for Excellence). Back to index
Reading	Every Child Matters	www.reading.gov.uk/everychildmatters A website for children and young people in Reading
Regulations	Every Child Matters	www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/ This website sets out the government's reforms of child protection in the wake of the inquiry into the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie.
Regulations	Exclusions	www.dfes.gov.uk/behaviourandattendance/guidance/exclusions/introduction.cfm Goverment guidelines for headteachers on school exclusions
Support	Extended Schools	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/extendedschools/ This website provides a guide to extended schools which provide a range of care and support services to pupils, families and local communities.
Support	Family Rights Group	www.frg.org.uk/index.asp Provides advice and support for families whose children are involved with social services and we develop and promote services that help secure the best possible futures for children and families. Back to index
Training	Family Support Work	www.learning-curve.org/popup.cfm?p_n=88992&p_i=88992 An advanced course for child care practitioners who find themselves working with families in a counselling or support context.
Disabled	Fledglings	www.fledglings.org.uk/ Not-for-profit organisation which helps parents and carers of a child with special needs of any kind to find simple, affordable solutions to practical problems.
Support	Foster & Adopt	www.fosteradopt.co.uk/ Independent group of parents and carers who are not managed, financed or supported by local authorities or agencies
Reading	Fostering and Adoption in Reading	www.reading.gov.uk/AZEntry.asp?id=SX9452-A7807FF9 Information for potential carers or parents of other peoples children
Regulations	Fostering Service Regulations	www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2002/20020057.htm#34 The Fostering Services Regulations 2002 (Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 57) "What the Authority must do"
Regulations	Fostering Service Standards	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/03/43/84/04034384.pdf Fostering Services National Minimum Standards "What the Authority should do"
Disabled	Getting a Life	www.ncb.org.uk/resources/cdc_getlife_issue01.pdf Information published by the Council for Disabled Children for people working with disabled young people in transition from childhood to adulthood Back to index
Support	Hideout, The	www.thehideout.org.uk/ Website for children who have witnessed or are victims of domestic violence Back to index
Financial	Home Responsibilities Protection	www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/atoz/atozdetailed/homeres.asp Scheme which helps you protect your basic state pension. From April 2003, HRP is also available to registered foster carers Back to index
Reading	Inspection Report (2004)	http://62.73.173.233/CSCI/LAF/53/S0000043053.V133310.R01.S.pdf CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspecton) report for Reading Borough Council Back to index
Reading	Inspection Report (2005)	http://62.73.173.233/CSCI/LAF/53/S0000043053.V196838.R01.S.pdf CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspecton) report for Reading Borough Council 2005
Support	Institute of Child Health	http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/ The joint website for the Great Ormond Street hospital and the Institute of Child Health provides a wide range of information on paediatric specialities.
Support	Keeping in Touch	www.keepingintouch.co.uk/ The primary aim of Keeping in Touch is to make available relevant information and links to young people who are or have been looked after by the Local Authority and are preparing to leave care’ or are already care leavers Back to index
Disabled	Landeez Wheelchairs	www.landeez.com/ All terrain and beach wheelchairs - they look really cool! Back to index
Regulations	Learning and Skills Act 2000	www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000021.htm Primary legislation covering provision post 16 for children with special educational needs
Support	National Children's Bureau	http://www.ncb.org.uk/Page.asp Includes parliamentary briefings, government consultations and monthly updates on its research. Back to index
Support	NCH Action for Children	http://www.nch.org.uk/index.php Information on child poverty, homelessness, child protection and children in care.
Support	NSPCC	http://www.nspcc.org.uk/html/home/home.htm Includes links to the charity's research and the training it provides in child protection.
Support	NZ Fostering	nzfostering.netfirms.com/ All about Fostering in New Zealand written by British ex-pat and Carer, Peter Foster (Honest!)
Regulations	PACE	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs3/pacecode_c.pdf Code of practice issued to police covering the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (see also "Appropriate Adult") Back to index
Support	Parenting	www.parentlineplus.org.uk/ Advice on all aspects of parenting including Alcohol, Bullying, building self esteem, dealing with schools, Discipline, Pregnancy, Sex and relationships
Support	Practice Guide	www.scie.org.uk/publications/practiceguides/fostering/ SCIE Practice guide for fostering
Support	Relationships	www.bbc.co.uk/relationships/sex_and_sexual_health/index.shtml Advice from BBC on all aspects of relationships
Support	Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health	http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/ The college's website includes information on continuing professional development as well as briefings on key issues such as the safety of the controversial MMR vaccine.
Support	Save the Children	http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/scuk/jsp/newhome.jsp?flash=true Detailing the charity's work around the globe to improve children's rights and welfare. Back to index
Regulations	School Visits and Sleepovers	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/43/11/04074311.PDF Policy circular LAC2004(4) setting out government guidelines on school visits and sleepovers
Support	SCIE	http://www.scie.org.uk Social Care Institute for Excellence
Reading	Sexual Health	www.rbbh.nhs.uk/florey-unit Website for the Royal Berks Sexual Health clinic
Regulations	Special Educational Needs and Disability	http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Education/documents/2004/10/12/Ofsted.pdf Ofsted report (2004) on inclusion of children with special needs into mainstream education post 16
Regulations	Special Educational Needs Regulations 1994	www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19941047_en_1.htm Statutory instrument covering local authoriy's obligations in providing for children with special educational needs post 16
Financial	State Pensions for Carers	www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/atoz/atozdetailed/rpforecast.asp If you are unsure how much your state pension is likely to be you can order a pension forecast from the pension service
Financial	Tax guidelines for carers	www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/bim52755.htm Inland Revenue Tax guidelines for care providers covering rules introduced in April 2003 Back to index
Financial	Tax guidelines Primary Legislation	www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/30014-ch.htm#sch36 Finance Act 2003 Primary Legislation covering Inland Revenue Tax law for care providers
Support	Teen Sexuality	www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/your_kids/teen_sexuality.shtml Advice from BBC for parents dealing with teenage questions on sexuality
Support	The Fostering Network	www.thefostering.net/ UK's leading charity for everyone involved in fostering. Members of Reading Carers Link receive free membership of TFN
Disabled	Transition in England and Wales	www.cafamily.org.uk/transition.pdf Guide to Transition Planning for disabled children published by Contact a Family
Support	UKFoster-Adopt	groups.yahoo.com/group/UKFoster-Adopt/ Internet discussion group for people in the UK who have an interest in fostering and adoption. Good source of advice and support mainly from other carers. Back to index
Support	Vaccinations	www.immunisation.nhs.uk./ Government advice on all aspects of vaccination including new BCG guidelinesBack to index