Matching kids to carers:.
MATCHING PRINCIPLES for selecting a careprovider:.
1. Cultural and ethnic background and linkages - if a careprovider of the same or similar ethnic background can be found then it is more suitable. It encourages the child to not loose their ethnicity which is an important part of them and also makes the home feel more familiar and comfortable for both the child and careprovider.
2. locality - minimize disruption to the lives of the children and you people by maintaining community links including: school, friends, sports. Ensure the carer is aware of the other systems in the child's life and is willing to continue these.
3. socio-economic considerations - value conflicts, creation of barriers to the children and young people returning home, difficulty establishing empathy.
4. religious beliefs - similar to ethnic backgrounds, provides for a better match if careprovider and child are of same religion. Careprovider also has to be openminded and be able to accept children of all religions and not try to impose their own religion on the child.
5. lifestyle and personality - eg. If you don't have the time or patience to be up all night with a baby then you might be better suited to an older child.
6. experience of the careproviders - a careprovider who has had experience in dealing with sexual abuse or who has provided care previously for a child who has been sexually abused is preferred over someone with no experience. Also a carer who has had specific training or is willing to do extra training on sexual abuse is preferred. They can then better deal with the issues that arise with kids who have been abused. Must be careful with carers who were sexually abused themselves. Often carers are people who were abused themselves when they were younger but sexual abuse tends to be a hard one. It can often bring up lots of bad memories and the careprovider can't handle these, or they minimalise the child's abuse, comparing it to their own and thinking that the child has no problems and should be able to deal with it because they did and their abuse was worse etc.
