What is this course about?
Supporting children who have experienced trauma requires acceptance, curiosity and empathy. Therapeutic parenting is a trauma informed approach that places connection at the heart of healing. By strengthening the relationship between carer and child, therapeutic parenting helps children and young people make sense of their experiences, emotions and behaviour and supports understanding and co-regulation.
This training will help you understand the impact of trauma and better understand what children and young people are trying to communicate through their behaviour. It will help you develop practical therapeutic skills for times when it’s really hard, and build stronger relationships that support connection and acceptance.
Supporting children and young people who have experienced trauma can be rewarding, but it can also present significant challenges. We know that setting aside time for training is not always easy. This course is designed to strengthen your understanding of trauma-informed care, build your confidence in applying therapeutic approaches, and offer valuable time for reflection, self-care, and personal renewal.
Learn from trusted experts
This course is delivered by Olivia Clark, Senior Practice Consultant, and Ange Durling, Practice Consultant, at The Fostering Network.
Olivia Clark has 16 years of experience supporting children, families, and foster carers as a qualified social worker and manager. Olivia has expertise in therapeutic and trauma-informed practice, holding DDP Level 1 training. Drawing on both professional and lived experience, Olivia is passionate about helping carers and services develop trauma-informed, relationship-based practice.
Angela Durling is a qualified social worker with 10 years experience working in Child Protection and Fostering services. Ange brings a rich, practical insight into therapeutic and trauma‑informed support for children and fostering families, creating training that balances solid theory with lived professional experience.
Why join this training?
Support children to feel safe and secure
Learn how to parent and understand children’s needs through connection to support children to feel safe.
Achieving long term stability
Work towards supporting children to establish long term relationships with their foster carers, where they feel accepted and understood.
Self-care and emotional regulation
Supporting and caring for children affected by trauma requires enduring patience, empathy and understanding. Learn the self-care and reflective tools needed to provide this.
Enhance your skills
Develop specialist knowledge in therapeutic parenting and trauma-informed care for those working across fostering, social care, and education.
What will you learn?
- How trauma shapes children’s development, behaviour, and emotional responses
- Apply practical therapeutic approaches in everyday caregiving
- Use therapeutic communication to support children during times of distress
- How to move beyond behaviour management to meet underlying emotional needs
- Strategies to strengthen relationships and build trust and connection
- Tools for your own emotional regulation and self-care
Who is this training for?
- Foster carers and kinship carers
- Supervising social workers and fostering practitioners
- Residential care workers
- Fostering services and corporate parents looking to develop their trauma-informed practice
Other date options:
Booking details:
Member rate £110 plus VAT
Non-member rate £149 plus VAT
This course will be delivered via MS Teams, registration will begin at 9:45, confirmed delegates will be sent joining instructions by email a few days before the course start date.
For more information contact [email protected] or speak to your fostering service about funding a place on this course.
View our cancellation policy
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