We are delighted to bring to the organisation our new and innovative Therapeutic Fostering Service whereby we are increasing the number of foster carers who can provide a home for the most troubled and traumatised children. Our specialist service is in high demand as Local Authorities are finding a greater need for therapeutic foster care placements.
Children and young people who require a therapeutic foster placement are likely to have had previous placement breakdowns whereby the standard fostering placement has been unsuccessful or where their adoption placement has broken down. Alternatively, some of our young people have successfully completed treatment in a more restrictive setting such as a residential home and are ready to step-down into a family environment.
Children and young people requiring an enhanced foster placement usually have a high degree of developmental trauma which is impacting on their ability to connect to others in a family setting. We often find that Looked After Children’s past abuse and trauma have caused various different types of mental health conditions such as depression, psychosis, separation anxiety and/or self-harming and our goal is to reduce such symptoms so they can experience a fulfilling and positive childhood.
We understand how difficult it can be to care for a child or young person whose emotional needs are complex and demanding and hence fully recognise how we must provide the best possible support to our foster carers. In doing so we have commissioned a therapeutic framework to our fostering programme known as The ARC© Framework which is a practical guide to trauma informed care and parenting for children and young people by their foster carers.