Books, booklets & multimedia

Ten Top Tips on Making Introductions

	Price: £7.95	BAAF, March 2009 ISBN  978 1 905664 66 5

All of us have had experience of introductions to new people, but few introductions are as emotionally loaded as those involved in adoption. An adoptive placement, for both the adults and child involved, can trigger excitement and anticipation, but also, especially for children who have already experienced multiple moves, loss, fear and anxiety. How can social workers plan and manage introductions in order to lay solid foundations for a child becoming a permanent member of a family?

Introductions are a culmination of all the work that must take place between linking a child with a family and confirming a match. This book considers the roles of all involved, including the birth family and other children, and will help workers to plan and manage good introductions.

Ten Top Tips on Making Introductions examines the purpose of introductions and how we can lay solid foundations for children to become fully integrated members of new families. It looks at some fundamental positive steps that workers and carers can take to ensure that introductions are as successful as possible, including:

• Tailoring plans to the child’s individual needs and ensuring he or she is properly prepared;
• Ensuring the family is prepared for this particular child;
• Planning introductions well whilst remaining flexible; and
• Ensuring that introductions are made at the child’s pace.

Good practice points are included throughout, clearly setting out issues to be considered.

This user-friendly guide contains expert advice for all workers involved with moving children on to other adoptive placements, or other forms of permanency. Both social workers new to this area of work, as well as established practitioners, will benefit from this practical advice on settling children into stable, enduring and permanent families.