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Fostering and Adoption Training and Support Programme
Soothing Stress Responses and Developing Self-Regulation at Home
This programme is aimed at supporting all those involved in the world of foster care and adoption who have responsibility of developing the essential skills that children and young people need to navigate through life. In order to thrive, these children need adults who have the knowledge, the ability and, most importantly, the practical skills to be able to manage their own adult responses and who also appreciate the need to support children to be able to manage themselves in a complex world where people will not always take into account the impact of developmental trauma. They need to be able to support their children in an empathic and attuned way by understanding what a child’s behaviour is telling them about their internal emotional state.
This training provides an opportunity for participants to understand the impact of developmental trauma on children’s development. It translates the science of how young brains are wired and mature, into accessible and practical applications which can be readily implemented in a range of family settings.
Training Programme
Session 1
The Biology of
Behaviour.
This session will include:
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Traditional approaches to managing behaviour and their limitations
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Different patterns of behaviour and what this tells us about a child’s needs
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Understanding behaviour developmentally
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The Neurosequential Model, regulate, relate, reason
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How a child’s behaviour can inform us of their internal state at any given time
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Using the state and developmental stage of a child to inform our responses
Session 2
Sensory Processing
and Attuned Relationships.
This session will include:
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How insecure attachments and trauma impact on our stress responses
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Different survival states, what they look and feel like
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The impact of the sensory environment on a distressed child
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Creating a sensory diet to regulate the body and brain
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The importance of staying connected while being aware of our own emotional state
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Using the PACE model to nurture fragile relationships and create a secure base
Session
3
Developing Self-Regulation.
This session will include:
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Understanding the development of self-regulation from early years to adult hood
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Moving from co-regulation to self-regulation
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Helping children to recognise and deal with stressors
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Identifying unsolved problems and lagging skills
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Using the cycle of self-regulation to change outcomes
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Supporting the development of self-regulation through everyday routines and scripts
Delivery
Each session lasts for 3 hours.
The training sessions involve tutor input designed to accommodate a variety of learning styles which include video extracts, case studies, group work, discussions, and skills practice. Session content and delivery can be adapted to meet the needs of individual groups.
Depending on location and requirements, course delivery can be in person or via a virtual platform. Everything is done to ensure that participants, who have training delivered virtually, have the same experiences as they would do as if they were ‘in the room’.
Follow Up Sessions
The principal aim is to support foster carers to really make a different in their own settings once the training is over. Workshop participants are expected to try out the approaches of self-regulation at home and then return approximately 6 weeks later with experiences, successes, or further challenges for discussion.
Follow-up sessions are the opportunity for technique reinforcement, practical interpretations, and case discussions. These sessions can be repeated as often as required.
Consultancy and Coaching
As part of the ongoing support, 1 to 1 consultations can be requested with individual carers or staff to discuss and problem solve around a child who continues to cause concern.
Collaboratively we will tease out the difficulties and gain a joint understanding of the unmet needs that are giving rise to stress responses. We will then plan together, alternative ways of connecting with, and supporting the child or young person.
Condensed Evening Sessions
A condensed session of 3 hours for partners of parents or carers who are not able to attend the full programme is available. This can be delivered in the evening or weekend. This session will contain the key points to set the context of what the main care giver is applying at home.