Identity

In order to understand other people’s identity we need to understand our own. This helps us to identify whether there are differences between us and the children that we care for and their families and whether there are gaps that can be bridged. You and your family should take some time to reflect on this at regular intervals.

A person's identity is important particularly for black and minority ethnic children and can be made up of a mixture of the things below;

• 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 else it will weaken their sense of who they are.

Our understanding of the child/young person’s background and should be addressed in the Placement Plan at the start of them living with you, about how this will be done.

Where children are cared for by 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.

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. 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 fostering social worker and/or the child’s social worker can also provide help.

You can use this time to spend learning and developing your knowledge and understanding about your child/young person’s culture as a time to share and bond with one another. This quality time can support in building relationships.

It is possible that a child/young person whose first language is not English may be cared for by you.

Language is an important part of a child/young person’s identity and culture. Every effort should be made to preserve a child/young person’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/young person’s cultural and linguistic needs contact the child/young person’s social worker or your fostering social worker.

You should look for ways in which you can promote the child/young person’s identity. Discuss this with your fostering social worker and the child/young person’s social worker. This information will be important should the child/young person return home or move to another carer or into adulthood.

The religious upbringing of a child is very important.

The right to determine the child/young person '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 matching of for the child/young person.

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.

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, can play any sport they wish or choice any style of clothing.

Young people who are experiencing gender identity issues should, 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 fostering social worker and the child’s social worker.

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 all lived experiences?

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