Creating a Christmas that Works for Children in Care: Collaboration, Understanding and Sensitivity

For children in care, Christmas can be a time of increased anxiety, uncertainty, and confusion. If you recognise what's at stake when considering the festive period for children in care – and care experienced children and young people – this webinar is for you.

Description

Christmas should be a time of peace and enjoyment for children and families. But for children in care, and care experienced children and young people, it can also be a time of increased anxiety and confusion. For those who are care experienced, who may have been adopted and are no longer in care, the festive season can be a time of complex feelings where more support, consideration and forward planning can help. For professionals working with children and young people in care, as well as foster parents or kinship carers, communication and noticing behaviour changes is essential. Amidst the Christmas hubbub and excitement, and carried along by the festive cheer, this vigilance is even more vital.

Moving children and young people in care from one placement to another in the run up to Christmas is an unfortunate but sometimes necessary choice. Children and young people may be navigating anxiety around uncertainty, travel plans to be able to see their birth family, distress from past traumas around Christmas and the festive period, or may be concerned that their own religious or cultural traditions may not be supported by their new placement.

Through three conversations with experts, you will be asked to consider how you might support children and young people in care during this busy and potentially stressful time. Communication, professional curiosity and collaboration is crucial here. But what does that look and feel like for children and young people? Centring children and young people in their care and support plans is always key, but important personal dates such as birthdays and culturally important festivals such as Christmas, Diwali or Hannukah can carry even more weight.

The Christmas period is a great opportunity to connect with the children and young people in your care, or those who you support – whether they’re currently in care, or care experienced.

These resources will help you:

• Understand how to respond to the unique needs of children and young people in care, and those who are care experienced at Christmas
• Develop a sense of what collaboration with a child or young person at Christmas might look like
• Gain confidence in helping children and young people to take part in traditions and to help them create their own, where appropriate
• Understand what is at stake when moving a child or young person to a different placement in the run up to Christmas and strengthen your ability to navigate this process with the child or young person
• Strengthen your understanding that there is no one way to ‘do’ Christmas or the festive period, and become confident at responding to needs, being flexible and being culturally and trauma informed
• Understand the balance between autonomy, freedom and boundaries when making decisions with children and young people

Further reading