Ian Gibbs – författare

Children s homes have cultures which vary from the benign to the malignant. Using a distinctive cross-institutional design, this study of 48 children s homes shows how some were characterised by widespread bullying, delinquency and low morale among both staff and residents whilst others were relatively peaceful and friendly. These differences are explained by the way these homes were resourced, managed and run, thus providing lessons for the future. This accessible text provides* a much-needed insight into the management of children s homes and the impact on their residents* perspectives from a large sample of children, parents, staff and social workers* an examination of the effect on staff and residents of features such as the size of the home, staff ratios, the proportion of trained staff and the approach of the headCommissioned by the Department of Health, this study is essential reading for practitioners in the social and welfare services and others with an interest in the well-being of deprived, troubled or delinquent young people.

Ghost stories from Canada’s most haunted city, including tales from iconic sites such as the Empress hotel, Hatley Castle, and Ross Bay Cemetery.Beautiful, charming Victoria is world renowned for its seaside attractions, flourishing gardens, and breathtaking ocean views. But looming behind its picture-perfect façade is a city shrouded in mystery, with restless, disembodied beings that whisper ghastly tales of mystery, violence, and horror.Known as British Columbia’s most haunted city, Victoria is teeming with a plethora of spirits. Through this brand-new collection of disturbing tales, you’ll come face to face with:The Grey Lady who chills hotel guests to the boneA decorated World War I soldier who protects tenants from something sinisterAn inconsolable child who haunts the pool area of a defunct hotelThe blood-soaked spectre who runs through the infamous Fan Tan Alley to escape captureThe ghost of Robert Johnson, who perpetually re-enacts his own suicideThe phantom of a cranky hermit who plagues a beautiful lake houseA spinster who gives tours of her childhood homeAnd many moreGet to know Victoria’s best-known hauntings along with some you may have not have heard before.

In his fourth collection, Ian Gibbs guides you to the most haunted locales in Canada, from coast to coast to coast.From urban hauntings in big cities to intimate stories in small towns, Canada’s Most Haunted shares never-before-told stories and gives fresh perspectives on the country’s most famous hauntings. Read the hair-raising tales of: The victims and murderers of 108 Mile House, South Caribou, BC The actors and dancers wandering The Palace Grand in Dawson City, YTNight staff’s chilling encounters at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon, SK Why Nahanni National Park Reserve in Dehcho Region, NWT is nicknamed Valley of the Headless MenThe rebels and military men haunting Fort Henry in Kingston, ONAn unexpected paranormal friendship at The Four Sisters in St John’s, NLGuided by experienced storyteller Ian Gibbs—ghost-walk guide, host of the Ghosts ‘N Bears podcast, and author of three ghost story collections—discover thirty-two chilling stories of ghosts and hauntings, with stops in every province and territory.

Foster carers look after two-thirds of the children cared for by English local authorities at any one time. The recruitment and retention of these carers is one of these authorities' central concerns. Against this background, Foster Carers examines the joys, sadnesses and strains of fostering, the support carers want and need, and the reasons why they continue or cease fostering.Drawing on questionnaire responses from a thousand foster carers across seven different local authorities, the authors highlight the importance of providing support that:* is adapted to the carers' families* contains the basic elements of reasonable payment, relevant training and reliable social work support* responds sensitively to serious crises and treats carers as part of a team* meets the specific needs of carers such as carers' groups and relief breaks.Foster Carers forms one part of the largest recent study into foster care in the UK. It is an invaluable resource for policy makers and practitioners, as well as local authorities formulating policies for the support and training needed by foster carers, and is essential reading for social work professionals, academics and foster carers themselves.

How can we determine success in foster placements? Based on exhaustive research, the authors discuss the primary concerns in foster placement planning, considering the high frequency of placement breakdowns, their impact on the child's behaviour and school performance, and the challenges this places on foster families.The specific needs of the foster child are given close attention in determining a pathway to success. By monitoring and describing the individual characteristics of the child within the context of the placement, the authors are able to reveal what types of supports are most beneficial.The implications for this research are considerable. Social workers are given new methods of assessing the needs of foster children which emphasise the process of care and not just the outcome. Policy makers are provided with rich qualitative accounts with which to increase and strengthen the success of foster placements. This is essential reading for social workers, policy makers and foster families.

Managing Children's Homes focuses on leadership, effective management, the allocation of resources, and ensuring positive outcomes for young people in residential care.The book develops an interdisciplinary understanding of what needs to be taken into account when establishing and maintaining good practice on behalf of young people living in children's homes. The authors explain the considerable variation in quality achieved by children's homes and how this relates to management style, working environment and staff structures. The skills and qualities that make effective managers of homes are explored. These, along with factors such as the provision of resources, are investigated to demonstrate how to attain a successful children's home environment and longer-term achievement for looked-after children.Based on innovative, DfES-funded, interdisciplinary research, this book will be essential reading for staff and managers in children's care homes and will also be of interest to students, policy-makers and directors of social services.

Children in public care complain that they have too many placements. Professionals agree but little is known about the reasons for this instability or how it affects different groups of children. The Pursuit of Permanence explores this core issue for children's services.Based on the largest study of the English care system in recent years, the book examines the children (what they need and what they want), their movements into, out of and within the care system, the nature and quality of their placements and the outcomes (whether the children are settled or happy). It analyses the reasons for movements and outcomes in different groups of children, and the relative impacts of the departments, social work teams and placements. It concludes with suggestions about how the care system should work, what it should offer and how it should be managed and inspected.This detailed, innovative and comprehensive study is essential reading for all professionals and academics involved with fostering, leaving care, adoption and children's services, as well as policy makers and students on social work courses.

Foster carers look after two-thirds of the children cared for by English local authorities at any one time. The recruitment and retention of these carers is one of these authorities' central concerns. Against this background, Foster Carers examines the joys, sadnesses and strains of fostering, the support carers want and need, and the reasons why they continue or cease fostering.Drawing on questionnaire responses from a thousand foster carers across seven different local authorities, the authors highlight the importance of providing support that:* is adapted to the carers' families* contains the basic elements of reasonable payment, relevant training and reliable social work support* responds sensitively to serious crises and treats carers as part of a team* meets the specific needs of carers such as carers' groups and relief breaks.Foster Carers forms one part of the largest recent study into foster care in the UK. It is an invaluable resource for policy makers and practitioners, as well as local authorities formulating policies for the support and training needed by foster carers, and is essential reading for social work professionals, academics and foster carers themselves.

How can we determine success in foster placements? Based on exhaustive research, the authors discuss the primary concerns in foster placement planning, considering the high frequency of placement breakdowns, their impact on the child's behaviour and school performance, and the challenges this places on foster families.The specific needs of the foster child are given close attention in determining a pathway to success. By monitoring and describing the individual characteristics of the child within the context of the placement, the authors are able to reveal what types of supports are most beneficial.The implications for this research are considerable. Social workers are given new methods of assessing the needs of foster children which emphasise the process of care and not just the outcome. Policy makers are provided with rich qualitative accounts with which to increase and strengthen the success of foster placements. This is essential reading for social workers, policy makers and foster families.

What happens to looked-after children in the longer term? This book analyses the outcomes of a large-scale study of foster children in the UK. It includes individual case studies and draws extensively on the views of foster children themselves. The authors examine:Why children remain fostered or move to different settings (adoption, residential care, their own families or independent living)How the children fare in these different settings and whyWhat the children feel about what happens to them.Other important issues covered include the support given to birth families to enable children to return home, the experience of adopters, the ways in which foster care can become more permanent and the experiences of young people in independent living.In bringing together these results the book provides a wealth of findings, many of them new and challenging. It offers positive and practical recommendations and will be an enduring resource for practitioners, academics, policy makers, trainers, managers and all those concerned with the well-being of looked-after children.

Managing Children's Homes focuses on leadership, effective management, the allocation of resources, and ensuring positive outcomes for young people in residential care.The book develops an interdisciplinary understanding of what needs to be taken into account when establishing and maintaining good practice on behalf of young people living in children's homes. The authors explain the considerable variation in quality achieved by children's homes and how this relates to management style, working environment and staff structures. The skills and qualities that make effective managers of homes are explored. These, along with factors such as the provision of resources, are investigated to demonstrate how to attain a successful children's home environment and longer-term achievement for looked-after children.Based on innovative, DfES-funded, interdisciplinary research, this book will be essential reading for staff and managers in children's care homes and will also be of interest to students, policy-makers and directors of social services.