Attachment & Children in Care

The course extensively covers attachment theory and its impact on children's behaviours, which directly supports Standard 3's focus on positive relationships and behavior management.

The PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) taught in the material provides foster carers with effective, trauma-informed strategies that align with NMS 3.7, which requires carers to be supported in "how to manage their responses and feelings arising from caring for children, particularly where children display very challenging behaviour."

The practical examples, such as the scenario with 10-year-old Alex who sabotages positive experiences, demonstrate how carers can implement Standard 3.6's requirement for "positive strategies for effectively supporting children where they encounter discrimination or bullying."

The content aligns with Standard 2.2, which states that "Foster carers are supported to promote children's social and emotional development, and to enable children to develop emotional resilience and positive self-esteem."

The detailed explanations of attachment behaviours across different age groups help carers understand how to build secure attachments and promote healthy emotional development.

The emphasis on understanding attachment behaviours as survival strategies rather than manipulation demonstrates how foster carers can "actively safeguard and promote the welfare of foster children" (Standard 4.2) and "make positive relationships with children, generate a culture of openness and trust" (Standard 4.3).

The focus on self-care for foster carers directly addresses Standard 21.1, ensuring that "foster carers provide foster children with care that reasonably meets those children's needs, takes the children's wishes and feelings into account, actively promotes individual care and supports the children's safety, health, enjoyment, education and preparation for the future."

The course provides essential knowledge that helps foster carers understand "the nature and level of support which will be provided to them by the fostering service" (Standard 21.2).

The content on therapeutic parenting aligns with several standards, including Standard 3.8, which requires "training in positive care and control of children, including training in de-escalating problems and disputes." The PACE approach offers specific techniques for de-escalation and building trust with children who have experienced trauma.