Katie Wrench is dual qualified as a social worker and art psychotherapist. She is Head of Clinical Services at BUSS (Building Underdeveloped Sensory Systems) Ltd., and has been offering training to local authorities across the UK, IFAs and third sector organisations since 2015. She co-authored Life Story Work with Children who are Fostered or Adopted (2013) - a model which has successfully been rolled out across England and Wales. She is also the author of Helping Vulnerable Children to Stay Safe (2016) and Creative Ideas for Assessing Vulnerable Children and Families (2018).
The author has produced a book that is written with insight and deep understanding and appreciation of direct work with children, young people and their families. This text will appeal to a broad readership that will include social work student, experienced social workers and practitioners working with children. Katie continues to bring depth to this area with a range of tools and frameworks that can be used to strengthen the voices of children in their plans and assessments. Thank you Katie, a must read and it is on my book shelf. -- Lee Pardy-Mclaughlin, Coventry City Council As someone who has been through the care system I appreciate the impact decisions made during assessments can have on children and young people. This book offers practitioners creative quality tools which will benefit practitioners and families alike. I encourage all practitioners involved with families to have a read and to use the learning to make the difference to children and young people. We deserve this! -- Shianne Kinchen, a care experienced young person working with Coventry City Council Practitioners, assessing vulnerable children and young people, must engage with them in order to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings. The wide range of imaginative activities included in this book provide a rich resource for busy workers. The activities enable practitioners to engage with children and young people in innovative and meaningful ways. -- Jan Horwath, Emeritus Professor of Child Welfare in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield