Identity

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Culture
3. Language
4. Providing Care for Black and Minority Ethnic Children
5. Religion
6. Disability
7. Gender
8. Living in a Positive Environment

1. Introduction

In order to understand other people’s identity we need to understand our own. This helps us to identify the differences (and commonalities) between us and the children that we care for and their families. You and your family should spend some time thinking about this before you start caring.

Identity is important particularly for black and minority ethnic children and can be made up of a mixture of:

• How we look including our skin colour;
• How we dress;
• How we sound and the language that we speak;
• Our views;
• Our family values and traditions;
• Our religious beliefs;
• Our family history and background;
• How we form relationships, including our sexual orientation.

It is important for you to develop and promote a child/young person’s identity. It is vital that you uphold and develop the child’s identity particularly when they are not living with their own family or it will weaken their sense of who they are.

Within our own culture we often do this without thinking or meaning to by assuming that what we do is the same as everybody else. The way in which we celebrate Christmas is an example of this.

Our ability to support young people to develop their identity is helped by understanding the child/young person’s background and should be addressed in the Placement Plan at the start of their placement about how this will be done.

Where children are placed with you from different backgrounds or cultures, the fostering service will provide additional training and support and information. This will make sure that the child/young person receives the best possible care to develop a positive understanding of their background and heritage.

2. Culture

Culture is part of a child’s/young person’s identity and heritage. All foster carers should respect and value a child’s cultural heritage.

Culture describes the way people live their lives. Culture is based on many different factors, memories, common experience, background, language, racial identity, class, religion and family attitudes etc.

Sometimes conflicts arise in foster homes between the way you are used to living and the ways that the child/young person is used to. Dilemmas can arise about what is the right thing to do. Examples can be as simple as eating at the table, or religious observance. You should talk to the child and their family (where appropriate) to try and understand what their views are and find a way forward. Your Supervising Social Worker and/or the child’s social worker can also provide help.

3. Language

It is possible that a child whose first language is not English may be placed with you.

Language is an important part of a child’s identity and culture. Every effort should be made to preserve a child’s linguistic and communication skills; otherwise they may lose a large part of their culture.

If you need more information or advice about a child’s cultural and linguistic needs contact the child’s social worker or your Supervising Social Worker.

Black children may have particular practical needs in relation to their identity. Their hair and skin care may be different, and toys and educational material such as books and DVDs and birthday cards should reflect black people. These will promote their sense of black identity.

You should look for ways in which you can promote the child’s identity. Discuss this with your Supervising Social Worker and the child’s social worker. This information will be important should the child return home or move to another carer.

4. Providing Care for Black and Minority Ethnic Children

When the child is placed with you, it is useful to talk to the child’s birth family or their social worker about the kind of things that are important to them and that they may be use to having in the family home. This may be to do with food or their skin and hair care. You could find out how to cook particular dishes and introduce them to the rest of the family which also helps to extend their understanding and experiences.

Black and mixed heritage children may have specific hair care needs. Again try and talk to either the birth family or the child’s social worker for specific details. Some children because of religious beliefs should not have their hair cut e.g. Rastafarians and Sikhs.

5 Religion

The religious upbringing of a Looked After Child is very important.

The right to determine the child's religion is one of the rights all birth parents retain for whatever reason the child comes to live with you.

Some parents may express strong preferences, but when they do this is usually reflected in the choice of a foster family for the child.

6. Disability

A child/young person’s disability is a part of who they are and the arrangements that are made to meet their needs are a part of respecting their identity.

7. Gender

Some young people may identify as transgender (i.e. as a different gender from their birth gender) or as non-binary (they may not identify as either male or female). Girls, boys and transgender/non- binary young people should receive equal opportunities and encouragement to pursue their talents, interests and hobbies. Sexist stereotypes of behaviour must not be imposed or condoned, for example there should be equal expectations that boys and girls will participate in domestic tasks.

Young people who are experiencing gender identity issues should, in general, be given space and support to develop their own gender identity, However it is important that they are protected from adverse effects such as bullying and discrimination.

Some young people may wish to discuss specialist medical intervention, or may require specialist support. Discuss this with your Supervising Social Worker and the child’s social worker.

8. Living in a Positive Environment

It is useful to think about all the things a child or young person comes into contact with. For example, toys books and posters. Do they have positive images of children who are from a different race or who have a disability?

This may seem like a small thing but it can have a big impact on a child if for instance all they see are images of white children and they are black, this is also important for things like birthday cards.