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The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

In this training programme for South Gloucestershire, Richard Rose will work with practitioners to enhance their engagement with children and young people affected by early life trauma. Through his innovative and creative techniques, Richard will demonstrate ways of working that enable placements to become healthy and nurturing through enhanced understanding and attachment, with the goal of helping these young people achieve their full potential.

Who Should Attend?: Life Story Therapy will greatly benefit all those working with children affected by early life trauma including: those working with children in care; teachers; youth workers; therapists; and those who are involved in recovery work with children and families in need. If you are a professional working with children and young people affected by early life trauma in child protection, out of home care, youth work, education or involved in recovery work with children and families in need, this is a wonderful opportunity not to be missed.

This workshop provides participants with an introduction to the Life Story process and how this work helps children make sense of the past, so that what has happened to them does not dominate, control, or inhibit the present. Based on Richard's Rose book 'Life Story Therapy with Traumatised Children - A Model for Practice', attendees will be shown techniques that have been successfully utilised to assist children to communicate their trauma.

The workshop will be led by Richard Rose, Director of Child Trauma Intervention Services Ltd (CTIS) which seeks to engage with children affected by early life trauma and to help them achieve their full potential. Richard undertakes consultancy and training on Life Story Therapy and working with 'hard to reach' children and adolescents and develops academic training programmes in the UK and internationally. Prior to founding CTIS in 2011, Richard worked in the UK in local authority child protection and in the highly regarded residential therapeutic treatment agency SACCS, including four years as the Clinical Practice Director of the Mary Walsh Institute. Throughout his career, Richard has worked with children and their carers in out of home care and family placements, with the aim of enabling placements to become healthy and nurturing through enhanced understanding and attachment. He is the author of three books including Life Story Therapy: A new therapy for traumatised children – A model for practice, published in 2012 and Innovative Therapeutic Life Story Work 2017. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University.

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

PLEASE FIND ATTACHED YOUR MICROSOFT TEAMS INVITE FOR BOTH SESSION 25th June  & 2nd July 2021 - PLEASE KEEP SAFE.


 Join us for this brand new course exploring the experiences of two care experienced people. The aim of these two session is to help adults understand and connect with the needs and experiences of children and young people in care, leaving care and beyond. This is a superb opportunity for practitioners to learn from those with experience of being in care to support the development of their skills and practice. This is a two session course and participants will need to attend both sessions.

The first session will be led by a young person currently within service in South Gloucestershire, they will be sharing their story, offering a reflective space for practitioners as well as practical tips and guidance on working with young people as well as an opportunity to answer questions.

The second session will be led by Kathy, Kathy and her family were involved in social services for the duration of her childhood. As an adolescent, Kathy was accommodated by the local authority. Kathy’s story is both inspirational and instructive for social care professionals. This session will include:

 Personal narrative and how the stories we are told and tell about ourselves and others impact on our reality and life chances.

Education not necessarily academic, as a route out of a challenging start.

Challenging the damaged goods myth (individual and system based).

Normalising difficult emotions routed in trauma. Building confidence in emotional tolerance and therefore self- esteem

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).

This session has been arranged for foster carers acting as a 'Buddy'  for newly approved foster carers.

The session will be a chance for the buddies to come together and discuss what's going well as well as be a forum where questions can be asked, or any uncertainty regarding the role can be addressed. 

Most importantly it is to be used as a session to develop and support each other in this important role.

The Purpose for the support groups



We realise that fostering can be really difficult at times. Perhaps the only people who really understand it are other foster carers and so therefore we want to give you a place to meet up.

There will be biscuits and/or cake, coffee, tea, and an opportunity for an informal chat at all of the meetings.

Although these will be informal meetings, each session will have a brief agenda, attendance list, and agreed group rules. This is to help those who don’t know anyone and feel awkward about coming along to a new meeting, to feel that they won’t be left alone on the side-lines.

Sometimes there will be speakers and topics as requested by the group, this will hopefully make it as relevant to your fostering as you like.

These sessions should be recorded on your Personal Development Plan (PDP).