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3.12.5 Spiritual Development

RELEVANT LEGISLATION

Sections 22 and 23, Children Act 1989

Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations 2010

Regulation 11, Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011

Standard 2, National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services 2011

Regulations 11 and 20, Children's Homes Regulations 2001

Standard 2, National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes 2011

AMENDMENTS

These legislative references were updated in September 2011.

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This procedure applies to children placed in children’s homes and foster homes managed by the authority, but the principles apply to the placement of all children in care. Therefore, where children in care are placed with parents, relatives or friends or in placements not managed by the authority, the social worker must ensure these or other adequate procedures are applied.


Each child’s Placement Plan/Placement Information Record should show how their religious and spiritual development needs are being accounted for, with a view to encouraging and supporting them to maintain a positive regard for their background and culture.

In the absence of a Placement Plan/Placement Information Record, the following should be adhered to:

  1. Children should be provided with balanced information and advice about their own religion and cultural background or that of their family.
  2. Wherever possible, there should be links with resources that can provide appropriate cultural/religious/spiritual experiences.
  3. If they wish to do so, children should be encouraged and supported to access religious instruction and/or join or confirm their faith. They should also be supported to explore and choose a different faith or no faith at all.
  4. Children’s daily routine, including their meal times and diet, should be amended to account for their religious and spiritual observances/needs.
  5. Birthdays or other celebratory days or occasions relating to children’s preferred religion will be given special significance and celebrated as appropriate.
  6. Children should also be encouraged to explore and understand different religions and cultures from their own; this should include meeting people with different backgrounds and cultures.

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