Children and young people in foster care may sometimes need additional support to help them understand their experiences, manage challenges and build on their strengths. Foster carers may also benefit from training, specialist advice and opportunities to develop their skills and confidence.
A range of support services may be available through health, education, social care and specialist organisations. The services that a child, young person or foster carer can access will depend on their individual needs, local arrangements and the professionals involved in their care.
Training and learning for foster carers
Many fostering services provide learning opportunities that help foster carers develop their understanding of:
- trauma and its impact on children and young people
- attachment and relationship-based care
- child development
- emotional wellbeing and mental health
- neurodevelopmental differences and disabilities
- behaviour as communication
- identity, culture and belonging
- safeguarding and promoting welfare
Learning alongside other foster carers can provide opportunities to share experiences, reflect on challenges and develop new approaches to supporting children and young people.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Children and young people may be able to access support through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) when they are experiencing difficulties with their emotional wellbeing or mental health.
CAMHS teams may include a range of professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, nurses and other specialists. The support offered will vary depending on individual needs and local service arrangements.
Where a child or young person may benefit from specialist assessment or therapeutic support, foster carers should discuss this with the child’s social worker and the professionals involved in their care.
Therapeutic approaches and specialist support
Different therapeutic approaches may be used to support children and young people, depending on their individual needs, strengths and experiences. The suitability of any intervention should be considered by appropriately qualified professionals.
Examples of therapeutic approaches that may sometimes be available include:
Creative arts therapies
Creative approaches such as art, music and drama therapy can help some children and young people express feelings, process experiences and develop confidence, communication and emotional wellbeing.
Play-based therapies
Play can provide children with a safe way to communicate feelings, experiences and relationships. Some therapeutic approaches use play to help children develop emotional understanding and resilience.
Attachment and relationship-focused approaches
Some interventions focus on strengthening relationships and helping children feel safe, understood and connected to the important adults in their lives. These approaches may draw on attachment theory and current understanding of child development.
Trauma-informed therapeutic support
Children who have experienced trauma may benefit from specialist therapeutic interventions designed to support emotional regulation, recovery and wellbeing. Different models and therapies may be appropriate for different children and young people.
Sensory and developmental approaches
Some children experience differences in how they process sensory information. Specialist assessment and intervention may help professionals and carers better understand a child’s sensory, developmental or communication needs.
Family and carer-inclusive support
Some therapeutic approaches involve working not only with the child or young person but also with the adults caring for them. This can help strengthen relationships, improve understanding and create more consistent support around the child.
Finding appropriate support
The support available to a child or young person should be based on an assessment of their individual needs and circumstances. A range of professionals may be involved in identifying and planning support, including social workers, health professionals, education staff and therapeutic practitioners.
Foster carers who have concerns about a child’s emotional wellbeing, development or behaviour should discuss these concerns with the professionals involved in the child’s care.
Every child and young person is unique. There is no single approach that works for everyone.
Support is most effective when it recognises a child’s individual experiences, strengths, identity, relationships and needs. Foster carers play an important role as part of the wider team around the child, helping to provide the stability, understanding and nurturing relationships that support positive development and wellbeing.