This course uses a therapeutic and co-operative approach to meeting the challenges faced by today's foster carers.
Developed and written by a renowned team of eminent child mental health and social work professionals, the course has arisen from the Fostering Changes Programme. This programme was set up in 1999 at the Maudsley Hospital in London to provide foster carers with practical advice and training in managing difficult and challenging child behaviour, and in forming positive relationships with the children they look after.
Who is it for?
The course is designed for use with foster carers in the local authority, voluntary or independent sectors. It draws substantially on ideas from current parent training programmes which use a cognitive behavioural approach to work with parents in order to develop their skills. It is designed for use with foster carers who already have children in placement.
Carers we have worked with have been enthusiastic about the content and style of training.
What does it consist of?
The manual provides a practical and accessible step-by-step guide for trainers. The core curriculum comprises ten three-hour training sessions, plus a further four supplementary sessions. Each session falls into three parts:
An agenda and material for a three-hour training session, including exercises, information and notes and guidance for trainers
Master ovehead projector templates, handouts for photocopying and evaluation sheets.
Course content covers the following topics: Session 1: Establishing the group Session 2: The context of behaviour (download the introduction and session 2, pdf) Session 3: Praise Session 4: Positive attention Session 5: Rewards Session 6: Giving instructions and ignoring Session 7: Setting limits Session 8: Natural and logical consequences and "time out" Session 9: Managing thoughts and feelings Session 10: Endings and taking care of yourself Supplementary sessions: Wetting, Soiling, Problem-solving with children and Communication skills: listening and responding.
This training programme can be used across the UK and internationally. You can download the Introduction and session 2 (in pdf format) here. (356kb - approx. 2 mins on a 28.8 kbps modem)
This comprehensive training programme will equip foster carers with the skills and knowledge to tackle a wide range of problems as well as manage difficult behaviour. Supervising social workers will also benefit from a sound working knowledge of cognitive behavioural strategies. It will make an invaluable contribution to the support and retention of foster carers, and will help them to meet children's needs.
Evidence from evaluation of the course shows significant improvements in
carer-child interaction,
specific child problems causing most worry to carers, and
child emotional symptoms and
also demonstrates a beneficial effect on carers' sense of confidence and self-efficacy.
It is clear that foster carers have found the ideas and skills empowering and enabling.
Who can use the course?
The course should be delivered by two trainers. It is suitable for use by independent trainers or local authority or voluntary sector social workers from fostering or children and families' teams, or child and adolescent mental health workers involved with looked after children services with a background in psychology, nursing or social work.
