Creating a Life Story Book for Looked After Children

1. Guidance for using this template to complete Part 2 of a Life Story Book Read this together with Life Story PracticeGuidance 1: Creating a life story book for children placed with permanent families. Completing this template can be done as soon as you know permanence is the plan for the child. To cut down on time, here are some pointers. Try to get as many photos as possible. Scan hard copies or get photos sent to you digitally. Place them on the page and do not be concerned about how they look. One of the Life Story social workers can help you with this. Show a image of the teddy bear to the child/permanent carer. If they like it ask them to name it and use this name throughout. The parts highlighted in red need to be replaced with information appropriate to your child. If you become stuck with explanations insert a note on that page and ask a Life Story social worker for help. Delete pages which are not appropriate to your child. Try to avoid changing the graphics in this template e.g. design/colours/ images, as this can interfere with the carefully structured narrative and then also take time to rework. You will find guidance notes at the bottom of most pages. For further support and advice about completing this section of your child’s Life Story Book contact Life Story social workers Sandra Garner x 5225 or Cathy Turner x 5191. You are on your way to creating a life long gift for a looked after child.

2. Insert photo of child as a baby. Boris is asking if you know who this most beautiful and precious baby is? Yes, it’s baby Xxxxx! Xxxxxwas born on a beautiful Autumn day on Friday 23rd October 2009 when the leaves were falling from the trees.

3. Insert photo of appropriate hospital. Like lots of babies Xxxxxwas born in a hospital. Boris is pointing at a picture of the XXXXXXX Hospital which is where Xxxxxwas born. .

4. The Royal London Hospital looks very different now. The new hospital building is on the left and the old one is on the right. Edith Cavell was a brave and very famous nurse who once worked here The Royal London Hospital is a very busy hospital with ambulances coming and going all the time. Sometimes you can hear the ‘choppa, choppa’ noise of a helicopter that lands on the roof bringing people who need help in an emergency. Can you spot tiny baby XXXXX?

5. Xxxxxwas born at 2.09pm in the afternoon which is when most children in London were at school.

6. At birth Xxxxxweighed 3.09 kg which is the same as saying he weighed 6 pounds and 6 ounces. So Xxxxxweighed almost the same as 8 cans of baked beans! Don’t eat all those beans Boris, you’ll go pop!

7. At birth xxxxxweighed xxxxxxgrams which is the same as saying he weighed just a little over xxx pounds. Soxxxxxxweighed almost the same as seven 400g cans of chick peas! Don’t eat all those chick peas Boris, you’ll go pop!

8. The name Xxxxxxis of Arabic origin and it is a common Bangladeshi name. Some people say the name Xxxxxxmeans: ‘intelligent’ Boris thinks Xxxxcertainly looks like an intelligent little boy! Include photo of child.

9. Boris says all babies have a birth mother and birth father. Xxxxx’sbirth mother is XXXXX and his/her birth father is XXXXXXX Xxxx’sbirth mother chose his name. Boris knows much more about xxxx’s birth parents. What else can you tell us Boris?

10. Boris says all babies get a birth certificate which gives important information about a baby’s birth. This is a copy ofXxxxx’sfirst birth certificate. Look closely and you can see that Xxxx’slast name was Bloggswhich is the same as Xxxx’sbirth father. Include picture of original birth certificate.

11. Insert appropriate images. Insert photo of birth mother. This is Xxxxxwho is XXXXX’s birth mother. She is from Bangladesh and here are some pictures about Bangladesh.

12. Debbie was almost age 34 when Aingeal was born xxxxxis 5 feet and 4 inches tall & she has black hair and hazel eyes Xxxxx was almost age 34 when xxxxxwas born Xxxxxxx’sfavourite food is curried chicken xxxxxxenjoys swimming, reading, listening to music and going to the cinema. Boris is juggling some balls that show some things to know about child’s namebirth mother birth mother’s name Xxxxxxx mother’s name is xxxxxxxand her father’s name Is xxxxx (both have passed away) Including (child’s name), xxxxxxxgave birth to 3 children -(put children’s first names here) xxxxxxhas two brothers (xxxx& xxxxx) and two sisters (xxxxx& xxxxxx).

13. Insert appropriate images. Insert photo of Birth father. This is Xxxxxwho is Xxxx’sbirth father. He is also from Bangladesh.

14. Xxxxsupports Arsenal football team. Xxxx wanted to be a mechanic. Xxxx’s favourite colour is blue. Xxxx has a sister called xxxxand a brother called xxxx Xxxx came to live in the UK in 2005 Xxxxx has worked in a restaurant in Cardiff, Wales Xxxx’s first language is Sylheti Boris has blown some bubbles that show some things to know about Birth Father’s Name.

15. Boris is juggling more balls but is unhappy he can’t show child’s name anything about his birth father because birth mother’s namewould not tell anyone anything about him, not even his name. Boris imagines child’s namemay feel sad or disappointed about this and says it is often helpful to talk about such feelings with a trusted adult.

16. Boris says these are some photos of some members of Xxxxx’sbirth family.

17. Bell (birth sister) Alf (birth sister) Toby (birth brother) Leslie (birth paternal uncle) Sue (birth paternal aunt) Sheila (birth sister) Shola ( birth sister) Henry (Birth brother) Joseph (birth father) Joanne (birth mother) Xxxxxx Take a look at some of the names in Xxxx’sbirth family tree.

18. All babies and children need a grown-up to keep them happy, healthy and safe. This is called ‘Parenting’. ‘Parenting’ is the thing that parents are expected to do all of the time. Look after us when we are ill Teach us what is right and what is wrong Keep us safe from any hurt or harm Give us a clean and safe home to live in Keep us warm when it’s cold Give us good food to help us grow Love us no matter what we say or do Give us hugs and cuddles Here are just some of the many things parents are expected to do all of the time…….. Here are just some of the many things parents are expected to do all of the time……..

19. Show us how to look after ourselves And here are some more! Help us feel good about ourselves Take us to the doctors and dentist Help us through problems or troubles Help us with our school work Take us to nursery or school Help us learn how to do new things Show us how to care and look after others Keep our bodies and clothes clean

20. Well! that can’t be easy, what a lot of things to do!

21. Example story Child’s name went to a nursery and when she was age 3 and a half, social workers discovered that while xxxxxand xxxxxfound it easier to look after her, they struggled to give child’s name the right clothes to keep her warm; the right amount of rules, playtimes, healthy food and routine. Xxxxwas not growing as she was expected to. Before child’s name was born, social workers found out that birth parents names were good at parenting their children some of the time, but there was far too much arguing between them and they didn’t seem to understand how scary and unsafe this was for their children. Neighbours, health visitors, the police and social workers were worried. A social worker is someone who tries to help children and their families when they are unhappy; they also try to find new families for children who need them.

22. Example Birth parents names certainly loved their children and wanted to look after them but they found it difficult to learn new things and did not understand how to keep their children safe and help them grow into strong healthy grown-ups. Boris is looking at something very important about love. Most people who have children love them and want to keep them. Love is a feeling but it also includes some ACTION For parents, the action part of love involves giving children what they need. The feeling part of love on its own is just not enough to keep children Happy, Healthy and Safe

23. Boris says that Xxx and Xxx were unable to do all the things a parent has to do all the time to keep their children happy, healthy and safe.

24. Asocial worker arranged for Xxxxto be cared for by a foster carer. Foster carers look after children who cannot live with their birth family. Sometimes they look after children for a short time and sometimes they look after them for a long time. When xxxxwas 4 years oldshe went to stay with a foster carer called, insert name. Insert appropriate photos of foster carer and child

25. Insert a collage of photos of the child doing various things with her/his foster family. Insert names of foster carersgave Xxxxlots of cuddles and care and kept him/herhealthy and safe. Xxxxxgrew stronger and stronger each day and learnt lots of things for the very first time like ……..

26. Foster carer namesaid Xxxxxliked fruits and his/herfavourites were grapes, bananas, strawberries and pears.Xxxxalso liked vegetables, fish, chicken, yoghurt and dahl. Yummy!

27. Foster Carer namesaid xxxxenjoyed playing with lego bricks, toy cars, lorries and trains. Xxxxalso loved playing football indoors; hide and seek; visiting parks and going on shopping trips.

28. Insert photos of any contact sessions. While living with her foster carers, Birth parents/family members/siblings names would sometimes meet him at different places. Social Workers call this meeting ‘contact’. This is called ‘contact’.

29. The Social Workers were very pleased to see how well Xxxxxwas doing. There were lots of meetings and long talks aboutxxxxx. Everyone wanted what was best for xxxxxxx’s future. They all agreed to go to Court to see the Judge. Insert photo of child’s social worker Boris is waving to Xxxx. XxxxwasXxxx’ssocial worker in the Children Looked After Team at London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

30. Boris has painted a fantastic picture of a Judge. Be careful Boris, you’re getting paint all over you! Boris says Judges are very clever and very wise and they are good at listening to everyone. The judge decided thatXxxxxshould live with a family that would know just how to look after him/herand keephim/hersafe, happy and healthy for a very, very long time, until he/she was all grown up (and beyond)!

31. A Social Worker from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Adoption Team called Xxxx, started to look for a family who could adoptXxxxx. Family Finderand LAC SWthought Xxxxxand Xxxxxwere just the right family for Xxxxxbecause …. Insert photo of Family finding social worker xxxxxfound a family- Xxxxx and Xxxxx.

32. ….. Xxxxand Xxxxknew just what to do to help Xxxx grow into a healthy, strong boy/girl. They knew that children need lots of love and cuddles, plenty of sleep and good food, a warm house, clean clothes, lots of fun, games and playtimes, and just the right number of rules to make sure that they are safe and secure. They were just the right grownups to be Xxxx’sforever mummy and daddy. Insert photo of adopters/ permanent carers

33. Insert photos of first meetings On Tuesday 16thAugust 2011, when xxxxwas age 4and a bit, he met his mummy and daddy for the first time when they visited him at his foster home. Xxxxxxx’smummy and daddy were so so happy and excited to meet him and felt absolutely blessed. Xxxxxxxxenjoyed playing together with his mummy and daddy and instantly sat on his daddy’s lap. Xxxxx’smummy and daddy have lots more to tell him about the time before he went to live with them.

34. Boris knows that Foster carer name loved caring for Xxxxbut she knew that she could only care forhim/her until his/her forever family was found. When she met permanent carers names, she was very pleased they would be Xxxx’smummy and daddy forever. After meeting each other for one week, on 4th February 2011 when XXXX was age ….. he went to live with his mummy and daddy Foster Carer s name said she will always remember Xxxx, especially …... His cheeky smile. How excited he became when he knew he was going out. His happy baby noises. Insert photos of foster carer and amend memory bubbles

35. Amend text below to explain contact arrangements. An envelope will be stuck to the page with text below printed as a letter. Boris says that Xxxx will not lose touch with his/her birth family. The social workers and the judge all agreed thatXxxx’sparents would send a letter to Xxxx once a year to let her know how Xxxxis doing.