Healing through fun and good relationships

Unlike other fostering agencies, all Chrysalis fostering workers are trained in using therapeutic techniques specifically designed to help children with developmental trauma, who live in foster care. Your therapeutic supervising social worker will support you to effectively parent your child or young person from day one.

Do I have the right personal attributes to be a Therapeutic Foster Carer?

Would you consider yourself a playful person?

  • Yes
  • This might be something I need to more help with

Would you consider yourself an accepting person?

  • Yes
  • This might be something I need to more help with

Would you consider yourself a curious person?

  • Yes
  • This might be something I need to more help with

Would you consider yourself an empathic person?

  • Yes
  • This might be something I need to more help with

Do you have any experience of therapy or counselling?

  • Yes
  • This might be something I need to more help with
Please choose the answer!

That is excellent! One of the team would love to chat to you more about your personal attributes and any experience of therapy or counselling you may have these combined are great foundations of Therapeutic parenting.

When you become a foster carer with Chrysalis you will be assigned a dedicated supervising social worker. There is also a comprehensive training and support package to assist you in developing your skills as a therapeutic foster carer. All that we ask is that you are open to new ideas and new ways of parenting.

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From the answers you have given we can see that you already have some of the key qualities required for Therapeutic parenting. This is great news!

When you become a foster carer with Chrysalis you will be assigned a dedicated supervising social worker. There is also a comprehensive training and support package to assist you in developing your skills as a therapeutic foster carer. Additionally, as part of the therapy package your child or young person will receive, you will work with your therapist on therapeutic models such as PACE and theraplay to better understand your child or young persons needs. All that we ask is that you are open to new ideas and new ways of parenting.

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Thank you for your honesty. We are not expecting anyone to be an expert or have all the answers now. Everyone has something unique to offer so please do not hesitate to contact our team to discuss fostering with Chrysalis.

When you become a foster carer with Chrysalis you will be assigned a dedicated supervising social worker. There is also a comprehensive training and support package to assist you in developing your skills as a therapeutic foster carer. All that we ask is that you are open to new ideas and new ways of parenting.
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The main approaches we use in all foster homes are:

PACE

Teaching you how to stay Playful, Accepting, Curious and Empathic towards your child, even when the going gets tough, so they learn that they can have a safe and caring relationship with you. We know how hard this will feel at times, and our support for you is accepting, realistic, skilful, and reliable.

 

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Theraplay

Every placement will be supported with Theraplay, usually weekly. Theraplay is emotionally tuned in, physical play, with nurturing touch as the basis of the interaction. Your worker takes charge of all the games, and teaches you how to do the same. The goal is to teach the child that adults can be in control as part of a safe, positive, and mutually enjoyable relationship.

The focus is on the here and now, rather than on the past. It is geared towards the child’s emotional age rather than their chronological age, and may often include games usually played with younger children. At the same time it provides experiences which help the child’s hurts to heal, and for them to receive nurturing from you.

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Additional therapy

If a child needs more help than this, an individually tailored wrap-around package of additional therapies can be provided.

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Don't just take our word for it!

Find out more about fostering with Chrysalis.

What does our Chrysalis Community say?

A place I can call home. It is full of people who give everything and keep nothing. Full of people who accept you for who you are, no judgement or prejudice. People who want to share their experiences and learn from yours. People who celebrate little successes with you and lift you up when you are down. Fostering community is community driven by care, compassion and unconditional love. It is a community committed to make difference.

Zuzana , Therapeutic Foster Carer

Chrysalis isn’t just a Fostering Agency, it’s an extension to our family. Unlike others they utilise a diverse selection of therapeutic techniques to help children with developmental trauma. These techniques coupled with the outstanding support they provide has enabled us as a team to transform a life! It hasn’t been a walk in the park, but it has been one of the most rewarding experiences for myself and my husband. Thank you so much for everything you have done and continue to do for our family.

Sophie, Therapeutic Foster Carer

I have been working with Chrysalis Consortium as the Agency Decision Maker since 2018 but have known of their work for much longer. Chrysalis are one of the few genuinely therapeutic fostering agencies around. They are committed to providing therapy to children and young people placed with their foster carers when they need it, and to training and supporting foster carers to use therapeutic parenting methods. It is clear that this transfers through to foster carers who provide committed, thoughtful, child focussed care to ensure that their needs are met.

Andrew Walker, Agency Decision Maker

What Support Will I Receive?

Monthly Attachment groups

Carers come to monthly groups with other carers and a children’s therapist.

Monthly supervision

Foster carers have monthly supervision sessions with their worker.

Frequent phone contact

We will respond to your requests for contact and visit more or less frequently as you need.

Out of hours support

We will always be contactable, whatever the time of day.

Fun social events

Chrysalis will organise events throughout the year to help this to happen; we hope you will join us!

3 weeks paid planned breaks

Foster carers will be allowed to take up to 3 weeks planned breaks per year, without your fostered child, if you need it.

Membership of the Fostering Network

We will provide this for all Chrysalis foster carers. See www.fostering.net for details of membership benefits.

Comprehensive Training

You will receive at least 3 days training before you start to foster, and individual coaching from your assessing worker.

Monthly training groups

Core fostering skills will be developed through monthly group training or skills share sessions.

Advanced study

Will be supported by your attendance at conferences, and accredited training, such as NVQs, and AKAMAS.

We expect you to need support, advice and training to foster successfully, and we are proud to provide what you need to a high level.

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Whether you’re ready to start your journey or just want to chat to an expert, we're here to talk.






    Fostering FAQs

    How Does Fostering Affect My Family?

    Your fostering will touch the whole of your community; the people close to you will be most affected, as well as being your strongest sources of support.

    If you have children, we are interested in their happiness. We run sessions to help your children understand how to live happily alongside a fostered child, and support them to let off steam and have fun.

    We understand your need to be together as a family, to recharge your batteries and reconnect with each other, outside of fostering. Chrysalis will give you up to 3 weeks paid planned breaks each year, so you can have some special time for yourselves.

    We will also welcome your friends and supporters at some foster carer training events, so that they can understand and reinforce your fostering approach.

    Do I need to be an experienced parent to foster?

    We are looking for people who like children! People who already spend time with children, whether they are your own or not, and people who enjoy activities which children could join in with, are high on our list. You don’t need to be an experienced parent or foster carer.

    Do I need any qualifications to foster?

    It will be helpful if you have some understanding of how children operate and develop as they grow. Most importantly however, you need to be willing to be shown new ways of taking care of children who have been hurt. There are specific requirements to be a foster carer in terms of education. This is a professional role and requires good written English.

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