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Contents

This guidance is divided as follows:

1. Introduction/Definitions
2. Guidance for Foster Carers

1. Introduction/Definitions

1.1  Guidance For Children

Social Workers should ensure that all Looked After Children are provided with guidance on how to deal with and report bullying.

1.2  What Is Bullying?

Bullying is aggressive and threatening behaviour that is designed to intimidate or persecute other people.  Bullying occurs when a person or group of people behave in ways which are designed to cause distress or to hurt another person or group of people. 

Bullying can be overt and plain for all to see.  It can be subtle and insidious.

Bullying can become part of the culture, recognised or believed by all or a significant number of people as ‘acceptable’; it can even be encouraged and rewarded.

Bullying can include:

1. Name calling, being sarcastic and spreading hurtful rumours;
2. Assault or physical violence - punching, kicking, pushing are common;
3. Threats, insults and intimidation;
4. Spitting;
5. Incitement of others to harass and intimidate;
6. Destruction or taking property without permission;
7. Extortion or undue pressure;
8. Emotional aggression like tormenting and excluding people;
9. Racial harassment, taunts, graffiti and gestures;
10. Sexual aggression or harassment, unwanted physical contact or comments;
11. Comments, threats or actions relating to people’s disability;
12. Comments, threats or actions relating to people’s sexual orientation.

Staff and children are capable of bullying, and of being bullied. 

Any child may be bullied, but bullying often occurs if a child has been identified in some ways as vulnerable, different or inclined to spend more time on his or her own.  This can apply to many vulnerable young people Looked After by Local Authorities.

Some minor teasing and name-calling can be common methods of interaction for young people and adults alike, but when such behaviour becomes persistent and threatening, it can become a major problem.

The seriousness of any bullying will depend on a number of factors:

• How long has the bullying been going on?
• How is it personally affecting the bullied child?
• The number of children involved.
• The degree of planning and provocation.

1.3  Why do children bully?

There are a variety of reasons why children bully – it may occur because they are unhappy, jealous or lacking in confidence - for some it can be a feeling of power and control; for others it is a way of making themselves feel better, less troubled or more confident; or it may be a reflection of how low they feel themselves, or how they were once bullied. 

Bullies may not be easy to spot – they are not always unpopular and may bully in a subtle way.

Bullying can bring young people perceived or actual “rewards”, including:

• The demonstration of superior power.
• A closer group identity.
• Gaining attention or material gains.
• Venting anger, frustration.
• Compensating for lack of success.
• Excitement from the fear of others.

These “rewards” are the “encouragement” required to continue the behaviour and may lead to its development into a sophisticated mechanism for control, which is both difficult to detect and challenge if it becomes the “culture” of the Home, school or organisation.

1.4  What are the effects of bullying?

Bullying can have an effect on a young person’s confidence and self esteem.  It can cause anxiety and worry, panic and unhappiness.  Young people may become withdrawn, uncommunicative or avoidant.  They may not fully participate in school or Home life.  Some young people can be affected later in life from their experience of bullying as a child.  In extreme cases, young people have taken their own life rather than continue to be bullied.

The bully too may have difficulties, they may fear their behaviour, or believe that they are inherently ‘bad’, worthy only of punishment.  For some young people being a bully can continue into adult life.  Sorting out bullying early reduces the chances of bullies getting into trouble later in life. 

Bullying starts with apparently trivial events such as teasing and name calling which never the less rely on an abuse of power.  Such abuses of power, if left unchallenged, can lead to more serious forms of abuse, such as domestic violence, racial attacks and sexual harassment.

2. Guidance for Foster Carers

2.1  Introduction

It is particularly important that policies and procedures are developed and implemented to address the issue of bullying both within the foster Home, at school and in the wider community. The policy must include information on bullying by Carers and other children in the foster Home and must refer to the different aspects of bullying that can occur. 

Training should be provided to Staff and Carers to raise their awareness about the issue of bullying and to facilitate the development of effective strategies to counter its effects.

Many children who become Looked After have already experienced emotional harm and they may also suffer psychological and behavioural difficulties that relate to the circumstances surrounding their admission to care. These issues will be compounded if they are already victims of bullying or it begins as a result of their care episode.

2.2  Principles

Bullying is a matter of concern for everyone. It can make the lives of children and young people who experience it miserable and in extreme cases can lead them to self-harm and suicide.

In the past, bullying has been referred to as part of growing up however, it has become a key issue for public policy makers in recent years as the available research evidence demonstrates the profound effect it has upon a child’s academic achievement and emotional well being.

For looked after children who experience bullying, the effect may be more acute because of their particular needs and experiences.

The Local Authority should work in partnership with foster Carers, Parents, children and other agencies who can assist in eradicating bullying.

Children should participate actively in developing strategies to combat bullying and their views should be sought in relation to the shaping and review of policy and procedure.

Bullying can take many forms but in every situation it involves an abuse of power, and results in a conscious desire by the bully to hurt another person, either physically or emotionally.

2.3  Dealing with Allegations/suspicions

Foster Carers should challenge the traditional ideas about bullying such as:

• Its only a bit of harmless fun
• Its all part of growing up
• Children have to put up with it, it will pass
• Adults getting involved makes it worse
• Carers should give clear messages to all children within the household that bullying is not acceptable. A climate of openness within the foster Home should be established so that children are not afraid to raise issues of concern.

Clearly, different children have different coping strategies and have varying degrees of resilience to being “picked on” or teased by others. Carers should try to reassure the child that their concern, however trivial it may seem, is being taken seriously by themselves and the other significant people in their lives.

2.4  Incidents Outside the Home

Most commonly bullying occurs within the school environment, although this is not exclusively the case.

Any incidents/allegations of bullying reported to foster Carers should be taken seriously and acted upon as soon as is practicable.

Foster Carers must ensure that they make a full written account of what the child has said which includes where possible:

• What has happened?
• The location and time of the Incident
• The names of any children involved
• Whether there were any witnesses to the event, including any adults such as teachers, or passer by.
• Whether the child has suffered any physical injury or has had any possessions stolen

The child’s safety is the first and paramount consideration, so if there has been a physical assault, medical attention may be required and the child’s Social Worker should be informed so that consideration must be given to police involvement.  Child Protection Procedures may be initiated if necessary.

Foster Carers must alert the child’s Social Worker and their Supervising Social Worker to any incident of bullying, particularly if the incident(s) are severe or prolonged.

Where appropriate, the child’s Social Worker will inform their Parents and keep them updated on a regular basis. They may also be involved in supporting their child through police interviews, medical's or meetings at school where this is required.

Foster Carers and Staff should always be alert to the possibility that the bullying is aggravated because of issues in relation to race, gender and sexuality. This should be addressed with the child and in any plan put in place to counteract the bullying.

If the bullying has taken place within the school environment, the Head Teacher or Designated Teacher should be advised immediately.

The child’s Social Worker should obtain a copy of the school’s anti bullying procedure and should ascertain what will happen next in terms of ensuring the child’s personal safety and wellbeing within school.

If the school is aware of the incident(s) they should initiate their anti bullying procedures and inform the foster carer and child’s Social Worker accordingly.

In any event the foster Carer has a vital role to play in supporting and reassuring the child that they were right to let people know what was happening and that they are believed.

Counselling should be sought for the child if appropriate.

2.5  Incidents within the Foster Home

Any Incidents/allegations of bullying within the foster Home should be taken seriously and acted upon.

Within a foster placement it is possible for one child to bully another.  Carers must be alert to the dynamics between children placed with them, or indeed between foster children and their own children.

If an incident that may constitute bullying is reported to a foster Carer, they may use their own judgement based on their knowledge of the child or children in question, and their skills as Carers, to determine the seriousness of the matter and the consequent response.

There are always likely to be arguments and disagreements between children within the Home environment but the Carer must be aware that this could develop into systematic bullying if it is not checked.

If Carers have any concerns or are unsure how to respond they must discuss them with the child’s Social Worker, or their own Supervising Social Worker.

If any instances of bullying do occur within the foster Home, the Carer must ensure that they make a full written account of what the child has said which includes where possible:

• What has happened?
• The location and time of the incident
• Who was involved?
• Were there any witnesses?
• Has the child been injured or had any belongings taken?

The child’s safety is the first and paramount consideration, so if a child has been physically assaulted, medical attention may be required and the involvement of the police may be appropriate. This is so in all instances, including where the assault was by another child. It may also be necessary to initiate Child Protection Procedures.

The foster Carer must notify the child’s Social Worker and their Supervising Social Worker as soon as is practicable. There could be implications for the foster placement and consideration may have to be given as to whether the placement(s) remain viable.

2.6  Children Who Bully

If an allegation of bullying is made against a child who is looked after, a decision will need to be made on how to tackle the issue and foster Carers will play an integral part in this process.

The child will be spoken to by an appropriate adult, for example a teacher, foster Carer, Social Worker or Parent and a written agreement drawn up by the child’s Social Worker to outline the strategies to be employed to challenge and modify the behaviour.

The agreement should include:

• A focus on the bullying behaviour; explore and where possible deal with the reasons for the behaviour
• Obtain information about what the child does and what they get out of it. Record times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest and what action will be taken to reduce it
• Give clear explanations about why the behaviour is unacceptable and encourage them to see the victim’s point of view. Record how this will be done and by whom
• Ensure that ways of rewarding positive attitudes towards other children are recorded and followed through
• Ensure that the agreement is signed by the child
• Include a provision for a review on a regular basis

In certain cases, if the child’s bullying behaviour has caused severe injury or distress to their victim, the police may be involved. If the child is over the age of criminal responsibility (10 years) there is the potential for a criminal prosecution.

End