Jessica, aged 10

Jessica was recently placed in foster care as her father had physically abused her. She is very quiet and withdrawn.

Her carers have been helping to build her confidence by giving her lots of praise and attention and doing ‘girlie’ things that she likes, such as going clothes shopping and having her hair done.

Jessica has no friends at the moment so the carers are helping her to find some hobbies that she likes and practising how she could talk more to the other children at school.

Jessica sees her family twice a week and often gets upset both before and after she sees them. Her carers help her by staying with her during the contact and making sure they have something planned for her to do afterwards.

Jessica’s foster carers and her social worker are working with her to help her better express her feelings and wishes and to assist her in understanding what has happened, and how her future may develop.

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