This selection of resources provides information and guidance to support you in your role as a foster carer, helping you understand why some children come to be looked after, the impact of trauma on a child’s development and wellbeing, and the importance of building safe, nurturing relationships.
These free resources showcase some of the content available to CATCH members, To access our full library of resources, tools, and support, become a CATCH member through your agency or buy an individual membership.
The uncertainty that children in foster care face often makes transitions to a new foster placement really challenging for a child or young person. Whether you are fostering short or long term, it’s important to create an environment that allows a child to feel safe, comfortable, and accepted with their new foster family. To help you welcome a child or young person into your home, our experts have put together 10 tips to help the transition go as smoothly as possible.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Most of the children who are diagnosed with FASD live with adoptive parents or foster carers, are care experienced, and often have a history of Adverse Childhood Experiences and attachment disruption.
“I liked the fact that it was presented in a positive manner, all too often we hear about the negatives. This has made feel less concerned about FASD in general.” – Hub member
Amanda Phelan (Panda), BB4K Senior Support Worker at PACT, looks specifically at the impact domestic abuse has on children. Please be aware this is a sensitive issue and some of the content/videos may be upsetting for some.
Neglect is the biggest reason children are subject to local authority intervention, the most complex to identify and developmentally harmful to the child. In this webinar Dawn Hodson, Chief Executive of Reducing the Risk, looks at neglect across various life stages, including in utero, covering the potential impact, what research tells us and ways to support the child.
University of East Anglia provides information about the Secure Base model, including what it is and why it was developed. They also provide lots of useful resources for parents, carers, practitioners and education professionals. These resources include book recommendations, videos of foster carers and young care leavers talking about providing and receiving Secure Base caregiving, checklists, case studies and links to further training and information.
Written by Dr Georgina Hibbert, a child and adolescent clinical psychologist who specialises in working with children who have suffered parental abuse or trauma. This course supports the understanding of core concepts essential to anyone raising or working with a child who has experienced early life trauma. We recommend this course to all of our members.
“Great mixture of content made it very engaging and thought-provoking… Made us consider what our parenting style will be and how we may tackle different situations should they arise in future.” – Hub member
In this webinar Simon, an adopted adult, explores the importance for adoptive parents to face past personal challenges with self-compassion to help build personal resilience. He also discusses how to draw on these experiences to help build a strong relationship with their child and create a nurturing environment to help overcome trauma.
“Thank you so much Simon. I will be listening to this many more times, with my big ears on. You have shared so many profound insights. Incredibly helpful, practical and offering hopeful ways forward. An outstanding webinar.” – Hub member
Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan talks to Andrea Warman (Director of Nifa Children and Families Consultancy) about his childhood and shares his experience of his early life in a children’s home. He shares what life was like living with an abusive parent and the sanctuary he found with his foster family. Ronnie also discusses the importance of relationships and creativity throughout his life.
The NSPCC has useful information on parental substance misuse, including what it is and the impact this can have on children and young people.