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Countering Bullying
Foster carers must promote an atmosphere in their home where bullying is not accepted or tolerated.
Definition
Bullying can include but not be limited to any of the following:
- hitting
- kicking
- punching
- threatening behaviour
- damage to someone's property
- excluding someone from games or activities or groups other than for reasons of discipline or safety
- ignoring someone or not speaking to them
- talking to others about someone unkindly
- taunting, teasing, name calling and ridiculing
- continually being unkind to someone
- continually criticising someone, how they look, what they say and do or don't do and who they are.
Bullying is a form of prejudice that leads to discrimination . That is treating someone unkindly or with a lack of respect because they are different or have a different view.
Children and bullying
Children can be both victims and perpetrators of bullying.
Children can be bullied outside of the foster home. In this case it is the responsibility of the foster carer and the social worker to deal with this situation as best they can and help the young person to develop strategies themselves.
Addressing bullying
Carers are expected to take a proactive stance in detecting the signs of bullying and to address them appropriately. Some of the steps and actions are as follows:
- checking if a child or young person in their care shows signs of being frightened, reluctant to attend school, withdrawn, unusually tense or agitated, or marks that indicate physical harm,
- speaking to the particular child or young person in a supportive manner,
- assuring him or her that he or she is not alone and would be supported
- addressing the issues with relevant bodies (school, for example),
- notifying the fostering and adoption team and the child's social worker,
- making timely and accurate recording of factual information as received from the victim,
- acting on advice and guidance provided by professionals
- carers should understand that schools may not be aware of bullying taking place unless they are advised and appropriate request is made to them to address bullying and to stop it
- where carers need particular support to understand the signs of bullying, the fostering and adoption team have special responsibility to assist them, which may include identifying training required, support to the victim, and resources that can be accessed.
- Ensure that at the time of the observed bullying an appropriate sanction is implemented; i.e. time out or lose a treat or something similar for the perpetrator.