Therapeutic fostering is a specialist type of foster care that is tailored to support children and young people who may have dealt with trauma, abuse or any other kind of severe disruption prior to being placed into foster care.
At Capstone Foster Care our therapeutic fostering is supported by MATTS. A service which is unique to Capstone and puts us ahead of the curve in the support that we offer not only to our foster carers but also our children.
MATTS stands for Multi-disciplinary Assessment Treatment & Therapy Service. This service was created by Capstone after seeing a need to provide mental health services to children and young people at the point of need.
“Aiming to proactively support children who have experienced trauma, not simply reacting to crisis situations.”
A therapeutic approach to fostering is needed when caring for children and young people with complex needs and challenging behaviour. It aims to create a safe environment for children to grow and become open to forming positive relationships.
“Through MATTS we want our children and young people to be able to thrive, develop and gain understanding of themselves and others.”
There is a high demand for this type of care. You do not need any extra qualifications to offer therapeutic fostering, but you do need to be open, to be willing and to be curious about the nature of relationships.
When a child experiences a challenging start in life, they may require extra help to flourish. As a therapeutic foster carer, you can provide a sense of stability to a young person with complex needs.
In the case of therapeutic matches, a foster home is not just a home, it’s a safe and comfortable sanctuary for children and young people whose early environments have not been so.
Each day will involve:
Willingness – as a therapeutic carer, you will be working with a range of professionals to support the needs of the child.
Openness – each child and their experiences are unique to them, you will be open to adjusting your parenting technique to best support the child in that moment.
Curiosity – your ability to step back, reflect, and consider the why are crucial in becoming a therapeutic carer.
Stability – one of the most damaging things for a looked after child is ongoing change, Capstone Foster Care will work with you to provide each child a loving and stable home that they need.
Here at Capstone MATTS provides a support like no other.
“We provide specialist support that enables stability within the fostering family.”
Through MATTS each child will have a bespoke plan with access to services such as mental health nurses, child psychotherapists, speech and language therapy, play therapy but with none of the waiting lists.
The thing to remember with Capstone is that you are never alone. The MATTS team is a wrap around service, placing the child at the centre, working with you the carer, therapists, professional experts, and schools to hold an entire network of support.
We are all in this together and we will be with you every step of the way.
Together with MATTS, Capstone is working to create long term healing and stable homes for the children that we support.
“Building a legacy of positive futures for young people.”
How much foster carers get paid often depends on a number of factors such as the type of foster care, the needs of the child or young person and geographical location. Learn more about how much therapeutic foster carers get paid including specific rates.
When you apply to become a foster carer with us, we assess the foster home and carer, ensuring the essential fostering training is complete before any placement is made. In addition to this, one of our expert supervising social workers will always be available to work with you and we’re available to provide you with support 24 hours a day.
Interested in becoming a therapeutic foster parent?
Previous experience within a professional setting is not required, we need your willing mindset to learn and to grow. We will provide you with the tools you need to support a child to thrive.
Do you want to learn? To grow? To develop? And support a child to do the same?
Then therapeutic foster care may be the right choice for you. Contact a member of our friendly team today to register your interest or find out more.
If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Capstone, fill out the form below.
An experienced fostering advisor from your local area will then be in touch.
Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you.