cultures and backgrounds to ensure that a range of carers are available for children coming into care. This guide should be by social workers and foster carers used to gain a broad understanding of cultural issues for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families. It should help people caring for children and young people from these backgrounds to understand ways in which to support their cultural identity. The guide cannot, however, replace discussions with individuals to understand their personal experience of their culture and experience. This guide will make some generalisations that will not apply across all those people who identify themselves as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller. There is a risk of creating stereotypes in producing a guide like this; the aim is to raise a general awareness of some of the culture and experience of many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people for carers. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have experienced persecution, oppression and racism. This discrimination is still present in the current day perception of the communities and continues to impact on individuals through media coverage and individual interactions. Looking after Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children There is little research or material available specifically for foster carers about their role in caring for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children which is why this guide has had to be produced locally. The Fostering Service Statutory Guidance (2011) states: carers should be supported to help individual children and young people ‘Foster cope if they are subject to discrimination, marginalisation or ridicule from their peers by virtue of their gender, religion, ethnic origin, cultural background, linguistic background, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or looked after status. Cultural, racial, faith based or ethnic expectations about (children’s) clothes or diet should be met and supported.’ In order for children to return to their Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities from care or as Care Leavers they need to maintain, as far as possible, their identity and the expected. This will best be achieved by maintaining links and promoting ‘purity’ the culture. If we do not do this, the child or young person will lose their cultural identity but still be likely to be exposed to the discrimination experienced by Gypsy, Roma, Traveller people without a support network. The importance of understanding culture in social work When working with families, children and young people, it is important to recognise the factors which influence their identity. If culture is ignored practitioners miss opportunities to allow culture to support their work and create a barrier to working together with families to improve the child’s well-being. They also re-enforce the
cultures and backgrounds to ensure that a range of carers are available for children coming into care. This guide should be by social workers and foster carers used to gain a broad understanding of cultural issues for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families. It should help people caring for children and young people from these backgrounds to understand ways in which to support their cultural identity. The guide cannot, however, replace discussions with individuals to understand their personal experience of their culture and experience. This guide will make some generalisations that will not apply across all those people who identify themselves as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller. There is a risk of creating stereotypes in producing a guide like this; the aim is to raise a general awareness of some of the culture and experience of many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people for carers. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have experienced persecution, oppression and racism. This discrimination is still present in the current day perception of the communities and continues to impact on individuals through media coverage and individual interactions. Looking after Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children There is little research or material available specifically for foster carers about their role in caring for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children which is why this guide has had to be produced locally. The Fostering Service Statutory Guidance (2011) states: ‘Foster carers should be supported to help individual children and young people cope if they are subject to discrimination, marginalisation or ridicule from their peers by virtue of their gender, religion, ethnic origin, cultural background, linguistic background, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or looked after status. Cultural, racial, faith based or ethnic expectations about (children’s) clothes or diet should be met and supported.’ In order for children to return to their Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities from care or as Care Leavers they need to maintain, as far as possible, their identity and the ‘purity’ expected. This will best be achieved by maintaining links and promoting the culture. If we do not do this, the child or young person will lose their cultural identity but still be likely to be exposed to the discrimination experienced by Gypsy, Roma, Traveller people without a support network. The importance of understanding culture in social work When working with families, children and young people, it is important to recognise the factors which influence their identity. If culture is ignored practitioners miss opportunities to allow culture to support their work and create a barrier to working together with families to improve the child’s well-being. They also re-enforce the
Caring%20for%20Gypsy%2C%20Roma%20and%20Traveller%20children%20in%20foster%20care.docx