Conference Poster: Foster Care Connect (Creating Trauma Informed Foster Carers)

The text of this poster reads:

At Foster Care Connect, a small independent fostering agency, we believe in promoting high quality learning and development opportunities for foster carers enabling them to meet children’s needs and offer a highly professional service. It is important that foster carers are trauma informed in their approaches to supporting children and we recognise the positive impact this has on providing therapeutic care centred around love, support and belonging. With this vision in mind, we applied to the Supportive Workforce element of The Promise Fund to help us develop a brand-new qualification specifically for foster carers that is accredited through Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF).

Following our successful bid for funding, we started developing a new qualification from scratch. This has been both a challenging and enjoyable experience. We consulted with a range of foster carers, other professionals and most importantly care experienced children and young people about what the qualification could and should look like.

The consultation was instrumental in naming the qualification: Supporting Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Trauma.

Our Learning and Development team then set to work designing and developing the learning experience.

In September 2023 Newbattle Abbey College validated the course using the SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework) credit rating and level process and we met to celebrate the momentous occasion.

The course recognises achievements in learning around therapeutic approaches, rooted in relational practice, encompassing attachment theory and trauma informed approaches. It has a strong rights focus, embedded in a continuum around children’s development and associated needs.

The SCQF qualification sits at SCQF Level 6 and has 6 credits.

The qualification is aimed at foster carers caring for children who have experienced early life trauma and the Learning Outcomes have been developed to reflect this:

1. Describe the importance of reflection in personal and professional development.
2. Identify the stages and formation of early attachments.
3. Explain the importance of a trauma informed approach.
4. Discuss how to promote children’s rights based on their developmental needs.
5. Demonstrate skills and knowledge in supporting children who have experienced trauma.

On Thursday 18th January 2024 , the week Foster Care Connect turned 20, the course started with 7 foster carers enrolled.

Despite their enthusiasm there were also nerves. Returning to accredited learning can be daunting and this course appreciates individual starting points and creates a nurturing learning environment, reflecting the key principles of an effective adult learning programme.

The course duration is 11 months and there are 60 guided learning hours which is made up of 40 face-to-face learning hours and 20 independent learning hours.

Foster carers need to understand the principles of therapeutic parenting interventions and engage these within their everyday lives.

Foster carers need to work in ways where care experienced children and young people feel valued and are encouraged to have supportive relationships.

Foster carers are required to reflect on their practice and take part in high quality supervision.

The understanding gained from the training is a valuable tool added to their skill set that impacts their practice and provides invaluable professional development.