Mike Thomas MSW, CQSW is consultant for external foster care, Mary Walsh Institute. He has been involved in childcare for 25 years and in foster care since 1984, first as a worker and since 1987 also as a foster carer. He has worked in both the public and independent fostering sectors. Terry Philpot is author and editor of several books, including (with Anthony Douglas) Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Times. He co-authored the previous four books in the Delivering Recovery series. He writes occasionally for The Tablet, the Guardian and other publications, and has won several awards for his journalism.

• Foreword. Acknowledgements. A Note on Terminology. Introduction. Chapter 1: The Context of Family Placement. Chapter 2: Children and Their Histories. Chapter 3: The Carers. Chapter 4: Fostering, Loss and Opportunity. Chapter 5: Practising to Make Perfect: Introduction and the Practice Family. Chapter 6: How Placements Can Succeed. Chapter 7: Toward Independence. Endnotes. References. The Story of SACCS. The Authors. Subject Index. Author Index.

Mike Thomas MSW, CQSW is consultant for external foster care, Mary Walsh Institute. He has been involved in childcare for 25 years and in foster care since 1984, first as a worker and since 1987 also as a foster carer. He has worked in both the public and independent fostering sectors. Terry Philpot is author and editor of several books, including (with Anthony Douglas) Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Times. He co-authored the previous four books in the Delivering Recovery series. He writes occasionally for The Tablet, the Guardian and other publications, and has won several awards for his journalism.

• Foreword. Acknowledgements. A Note on Terminology. Introduction. Chapter 1: The Context of Family Placement. Chapter 2: Children and Their Histories. Chapter 3: The Carers. Chapter 4: Fostering, Loss and Opportunity. Chapter 5: Practising to Make Perfect: Introduction and the Practice Family. Chapter 6: How Placements Can Succeed. Chapter 7: Toward Independence. Endnotes. References. The Story of SACCS. The Authors. Subject Index. Author Index.

Mike Thomas MSW, CQSW is consultant for external foster care, Mary Walsh Institute. He has been involved in childcare for 25 years and in foster care since 1984, first as a worker and since 1987 also as a foster carer. He has worked in both the public and independent fostering sectors. Terry Philpot is author and editor of several books, including (with Anthony Douglas) Adoption: Changing Families, Changing Times. He co-authored the previous four books in the Delivering Recovery series. He writes occasionally for The Tablet, the Guardian and other publications, and has won several awards for his journalism.

• Foreword. Acknowledgements. A Note on Terminology. Introduction. Chapter 1: The Context of Family Placement. Chapter 2: Children and Their Histories. Chapter 3: The Carers. Chapter 4: Fostering, Loss and Opportunity. Chapter 5: Practising to Make Perfect: Introduction and the Practice Family. Chapter 6: How Placements Can Succeed. Chapter 7: Toward Independence. Endnotes. References. The Story of SACCS. The Authors. Subject Index. Author Index.