A Guide to Therapeutic Child Care provides an easy to read explanation of the secrets that lie behind good quality therapeutic child care.

It describes relevant theories, the 'invisible' psychological challenges that children will often struggle with and how to develop a nurturing relationship and build trust. Combining advice with practical strategies, the book also provides specific guidance on how to create safe spaces (both physical and relational) and how to aid the development of key social or emotional skills for children which may be lacking as a result of early trauma.

Written with input from foster carers, the book is an ideal guide for residential child care workers, foster carers, kinship carers, social workers and new adoptive parents.

Ruth Emond works part time in the School of Applied Social Science, University of Stirling and is a social worker and play therapist providing therapy to children and parents who have experienced trauma.
Laura Steckley works at the University of Strathclyde as part of the School of Social Work and Social Policy and the Centre of Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland.
Autumn Roesch-Marsh is a qualified social worker with experience of working with children in residential and community settings. Autumn currently works at the University of Edinburgh as a Lecturer in Social Work.

Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction. 2. The Developing Person. 3. Tuning In and Attunement. 4. Healing and Containing: Relationships as a Source of Recovery. 5. Rhythms, Routines and Rituals. 6. Memory Keepers: The Role of Carers in Keeping Hold of the Child's Story. 7. Food and Its Everyday Use. 8. Touch. 9. Communicating. 10. Working With Pain-Based Behaviour. 11. Bridge to the World. 12. Conclusion. References.