Principles of Good Care Practices

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that interventions must be in the best interests of the child (article 3), they should facilitate the return of children to their families (articles 8-10) and all placements must protect children and be subject to periodic reviews (articles 20 & 25). All child care and protection workers should have the tools and knowledge to adequately assess how to support a child. This includes knowledge on the effects of institutional care and child development information.

The literature in this section focuses on the dynamic processes of gathering and analysing information in order to undertake informed interventions.
Children have the right to participate in matters affecting their lives and should be enabled to give their opinions, and to have those opinions…
Permanency planning is the process of assessing and preparing a child for long term care when in out-of-home placements such as kinship or foster…
"Gatekeeping" is the process of referring children and families to appropriate services or care arrangements with the aim of limiting inappropriate…
Countries which have traditionally relied on residential care are now undergoing major transformations to their child care and social welfare…
Knowledge of child development is the foundation for work with children, and therefore is a requirement for all those seeking to protect children.
The literature in this section provides information on interim, transitional and short-term care.
This section includes literature on family reintegration in non-emergency settings, including support for care leavers.