Attachment for Foster Carers 2 day

Overview

This two-day course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to attachment theory and an overview of the impact of early childhood trauma on the developing child. The course will focus on enabling participants to use this knowledge to inform their understanding of the children they care for and the implications for parenting and on themselves as caregivers.

Course Description

The course is relevant for all foster carers and alternative carers, including staff working in residential care homes. The course is also relevant for professionals who supervise carers and staff.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will have been offered the opportunity to:
1. Explore the impact of early childhood trauma on the developing child from a neurological and sensory processing perspective.
2. Consider the importance of attachment theory in understanding the needs of infants and children.
3. Look at how attachment patterns develop and ways in which we may recognise these.
4. Have an overview of the Dynamic Maturational Model of attachment and adaptation (DMM).
5. Explore how the developmental pathways lead to the various insecure strategies and the characteristics associated with the A, B and C strategies.
6. Consider how the behaviour of children and adults can be best understood when we focus on the function of the behaviour rather than the surface appearance of the behaviour.
7. Consider how a knowledge of the impact of adverse childhood experiences can help us have a deeper understanding of the child.
8. Explore the ways in which this understanding can inform parenting and how we think about ourselves as caregivers.