Latest figures show the number of fostering households in England has shrunk for the second year in a row, dropping by 6%. With a growing number of children in the care population, and with fewer potential foster carers, how can their needs be met? We spoke with Gillian Miele, Kedleston Group Head of Care, to find out more. 

“For some children who are not able to live in the family home and who have additional needs due to the trauma they have experienced, multiple foster home breakdowns or social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, finding a suitable foster home is already a challenge.

“When that is coupled with fewer people applying to foster children, and high numbers leaving the role each year, that challenge is even greater. What it means sadly is that foster care just may not be an option for many children. But they still need excellent care, nurture, and support until they, or their families, are ready - wherever that’s possible - for them to return home.

“Small children’s homes can be a really positive solution for these children. They are a ready, safe, and caring option with experienced staff teams in place who are able to give them stability, consistency and nurture. Kedleston’s residential children’s homes are true family-style homes, and each supports no more than five children. They are in the heart of their communities; they are warm and welcoming.

“The homes use the PACE approach when supporting children. PACE stands for Playful, Accepting, Curious, and Empathetic and is a child-centred approach which focuses on creating a supportive and nurturing environment that promotes the well-being and development of children. 

“It is always the aim of our residential children’s homes, including those linked to our residential schools, to help children to return home or to a suitable foster home as soon as possible, if it is appropriate for them. And we have a great track record in successfully doing so.

“For example, the positive whole family support and engagement from the team at Dovedale House helped Gavin* to return home to his parents, something his Social Worker described as “the best-case scenario”.

“Gavin had been placed into care as he was putting himself in risky situations with older children, had begun using drugs. His relationship with his parents had broken down. The whole family were distraught at the situation and as Gavin became more aggressive and angry, family relationships suffered.

“With careful guidance and patience, Gavin began to understand positive rewards and consequences, The Home’s team gave him structure, helped him develop coping mechanisms and encouraged positive relationship building with family and friends.

“The team worked directly with the family who were supported to attend parenting courses. He was supported on home visits which increased in length as time went by and a full and successful transition home has now taken place. The team also worked to support Gavin educationally, helping him maintain his placement in a mainstream school SEN provision as well as developing a really careful transition plan to help him fully reintegrate into the main school.

“Aiden* was at risk of criminal exploitation and needed a specialist environment for support and care that could protect him. His family believe his time at Wings School Notts has turned his life from potential tragedy to positivity.

“Aiden experienced extremely challenging behaviour including drug taking and high-risk and anti-social behaviour. He also wasn’t engaging in education and was reluctant to talk about past traumas. Aiden wanted very much to, in the long term, be reunited with his family.

“He went to Wings School Notts where the safe and nurturing care environment, ability to attend school on site and the enhanced therapeutic support available meant he was able to make significant progress. His drug usage reduced exponentially, as did his forensic and aggressive challenges. He engaged with both education and therapy and at no point was missing from care.

Aiden built positive relationships with the staff team as well as his family. He achieved high levels of qualifications.

A family member said: “It is very evident that you have spent many a patient hour, daily, listening, teaching, building and believing in Aiden and you and your fabulous team at Wings have changed a young boy’s tragic life around and that is where I and my family are so unbelievably grateful.”

“We understand how important it is that, before a child can successfully move home, or to a foster family, their time with us is stable.

“We know how stressful it is to move home and so we keep at the forefront of our mind just how stressed a child may be by the time they reach us having potentially moved multiple times. We support them to work through that stress and anxiety.

“We also understand that as a young person becomes more comfortable, we may see a slight spike in challenges they experience in their behaviour, and they feel safe to work through their trauma. We recognise that doesn’t mean we’re not the right fit for the child and we prepare for these ‘ripples’. The child ultimately knows this is a safe space to work through their trauma and that we will stick by them, and support them while they do so,

“With fewer foster homes available for children like Aiden and Gavin, small, therapeutic and family-style residential children’s homes can undoubtedly have positive and life-changing outcomes for vulnerable young people and their families.”

*not their real names

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