ISP’s Therapeutic Pathway
Assured by City & Guilds, our industry-leading Therapeutic Pathway provides foster parents with the key skills and knowledge they need to provide extraordinary therapeutic foster care.
About the programme
Designed by our Head of Therapy, Dr Suzannah Hill, in consultation with foster parents, staff and young people, our City & Guilds Assured training programme uses the latest evidence-based therapeutic parenting approaches.
The first stage introduces essential skills that you’ll need day-to-day as a foster parent, before moving onto the more advanced principles of therapeutic care.
The second stage is more practical, where you’ll receive feedback and support as you bring together your skills and knowledge, and apply these learnings into your role through case studies and mentoring.
We know the extraordinary difference that highly-trained foster parents can have in the lives of young people in care. That’s why we continue to invest in our training, so we can develop the very best foster parents in the country.
Stage 1: Fostering Therapeutic Relationships
Over 3 sessions, you’ll learn about a variety of different concepts around therapeutic relationships as well as create a plan for your personal development.
- Module 1 – Expectations and reflective practice
- Module 2 – Communication, discomfort, curiosity and the ‘Headspace’ model
- Module 3 – Review, self-evaluation and development plan
Stage 1 (continued): Foster Parent Toolbox
Building on the skills learned, the following sessions will broaden your knowledge around key models and theories to advance your understanding of therapeutic care.
Modules 1 and 2 will cover:
- Child development and attachment
- The impact of early trauma and abuse
- Neuro-sequential recovery
- Surviving abuse and neglect - ‘Secure Base’ model
- Fostering trust, overcoming barriers and ruptures
- Your emotions
- Building and re-building resilience
Followed by sessions on:
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A final workshop will be held at the end of Stage 1 to bring together all these valuable learnings. Stage 1 will need to be completed to move to Main Grade.
Stage 2: Therapeutic Pathway - Senior Grade
This is an additional training pathway where you demonstrate your understanding of the concepts learned in the Therapeutic Pathway, and how you apply them in your day-to-day role.
This pathway includes:
- Attachment Play Workshop 1: Play and You
- Attachment Play Workshop 2: Attachment Play and Communication Skills
- Attachment Play Workshop 3: Play in Practice
- Case study reflective discussion groups
- Mentoring / “Giving Back” - support new foster parents through mentoring or facilitating a peer support group
After completing this stage, you may be eligible to move to our Senior Grade.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Therapeutic Pathway courses mandatory?
The following Therapeutic Pathway courses are mandatory:
- Stage 1 – All Modules
- Stage 2 – Modules 1 and 2
These courses are mandatory for any secondary foster parents who joined ISP after 1st September 2022. We also strongly advise any secondary foster parents approved before this date to attend these courses too.
What is a Reflective Practice session?
Reflective Practice sessions help us take stock of what you’ve learned, evaluate and get feedback on trying out new approaches, and use this reflection to work out what you might do next.
How long are the training sessions?
Workshops are generally around 2-3 hours. Follow up reflective practice sessions are around 1-2 hours.
What resources will I need to complete the courses?
We will provide you with a number of books to help you complete each stage. These include Therapeutic Parenting in a Nutshell for Stage 1 and Why Can’t My Child Behave for Stage 2.
Will I receive a certificate for completing each course?
Yes, you'll receive a certificate for each completed two-part module.
How long does it take to complete the Therapeutic Pathway?
It will typically take around 4-5 years to complete the pathway.
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