Learning from Research: The Reflective Fostering Study – building reflective capacity improves the well-being of foster and kinship carers.
Foster and kinship carers play a vital role by providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment to vulnerable children. But many carers leave fostering citing a lack of support, stress, and burnout. The reflective fostering programme is a model developed by the Anna Freud Centre that supports carers to look after their own wellbeing while building strong, and supportive relationships with children who have experienced trauma and adversity.
In this session, we will be exploring the first major randomized control trial of the Reflective Fostering Programme to understand its impact on the wellbeing of children and their carers, as well as what the research tells us about the programme’s ability to strengthen the carer-child relationship, support placement stability and reduce feelings of burnout.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
- Learn about Reflective Fostering and its links to attachment theory and developmental trauma, as well as how it is applied to working with children and families.
- Understand the effectiveness of the programme in supporting wellbeing for both children and families as well as its effectiveness in terms of carer retention.
- Hear about mentalisation techniques and how these can support carers to reflect on their own, and their child’s, thoughts and feelings.
PRESENTERS
Marie Crook
Marie is a foster carer with Lancs local Authority. She has been fostering with her husband for 16 years. 4 long term children and close to 100 on respite or emergency. She was part of research study for Reflective Fostering, joining later as an member on our Carer Advisory Group.
Dr Karen Irvine, Researcher, University of Hertfordshire
Karen works at the University of Hertfordshire. She was the Trial Manager for the Reflective Fostering Study, overseeing delivery of the research and now sharing the research findings.
WHO'S IT FOR
This session will be of interest to all social workers, team managers and advanced practitioners, as well as carers or those working with children and young people.
FEES
Members: FREE (don't forget to log in to your account to receive your discount)
Non-members: £20+VAT.
Contact
Telephone: 0207 520 7520 / 0310
Email: events@corambaaf.org.uk
£20.00