Fostering Changes for professionals
The Fostering Changes programme is an evidenced based intervention for caregivers designed to increase placement stability and improve positive outcomes in children and young people.
This intervention teaches a range of skills to caregivers to help them reduce challenging behaviours and increase attachment, thereby reducing the likelihood of placement breakdown.
There has been a positive outcomes reported in Europe, USA and cultural shift around foster care service provision and training in the UK, USA and Europe.
Fostering Changes is a 12 week evidence-based programme that gives caregivers real skills in behaviour identification and management, which in turn maximises the positive outcomes for children by supporting the longevity and stability of placements.
Where did it come from?
It was designed and researched in the UK, by The Maudsley Hospital and Kings College London. There was a national demand for a specifically designed programme for caregivers due to the high levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties displayed by children affected by abuse and trauma.
This treatment programme has since been rolled out across England (2009–2014) and Wales (2014). Thousands of caregivers and social workers have been trained in this programme. The Fostering Changes Team based in London continue to train and have now developed Adoption Changes and an Adolescent programme.
Fostering Changes Team have trained teams in New Zealand, Japan, Europe and Canada.
How is it delivered?
Delivered by two trained and experienced facilitators, the course is designed around modelling of skills, role plays to assist in skill development and home practice to embed the skills in day to day life. Core skills of praise, time out, play and emotional regulation are discussed and taught.
Are you are service or a professional that would like to become a Facilitator?
The Incredible Families Trust alongside Fostering Futures work with both organisations and individuals wishing to train in Fostering Changes or develop Fostering Changes as a service lead intervention.
The Facilitator’s Course is a 4 day course, providing knowledge of the entire content of the Fostering Changes Programme, along with skills in facilitation and training. Its aim is to ensure facilitators are able to impart the knowledge and skills to caregivers in order to develop better relationships with children and to manage their placements better on a day to day basis.
There is an extra day designed specifically for adolescents.
We have worked with several NGO’s in using Fostering Changes as a model and intervention for their caregivers.
We have also trained a group of individual practioners in fostering changes.
For a more detailed breakdown on the content please contact Abi Simmonds.
Service training can be organised through Incredible Families.
Can we receive supervision if our service chooses to run Groups?
The aim of supervision will be to support the facilitators in setting up the group, developing positive and cohesive group dynamics and ensuring the facilitators feel confident in delivering the material and individualising the programme to the caregivers.
Supervision will be offered fortnightly throughout the group. If funding is difficult we can tailor supervision to meet your needs.
The last supervision will be spent reflecting on the progress, glitches and barriers to implementing the programme.
The facilitators will be asked to video record:
- Feedback from homework (review)
- Learning topic every week.
This is to help with training needs and support supervision. This process is also part of the accreditation process, which is awarded through the Maudsley Team. Furthermore the facilitators will be asked to complete several measures.
This will also help the supervisors to provide focused support and meet training needs of the facilitators. Evidence indicates that this is the best way to ensure fidelity to model and to develop skills and knowledge.