ABSTRACT
Tom Skipper had been living with the Armstrong family for four months. At the beginning of the placement, Tom’s first experience of work had been as a part time worker in a local factory owned by Mr Thackwray, an acquaintance of the Armstrongs. Tom had also been getting to know his mother. He had retained no memory of her; he probably had not seen her since he came into care at 4 years old. The Armstrongs were unpeturbed by Tom’s unplanned overnight stay and were therefore able to belie his expectations that they would be furious with him on his return. Tom moved out to the caravan on his 18th birthday. It was parked in the lee of the house, sheltered from the strong winds that had troubled him at night in the early months of the placement.
