Therapeutic Fostering

Our Aim

The aim of everything we do at By the Bridge with Cambian is to assist children and young people in accessing equal opportunities to build a successful life. By its very nature, having to be Fostered usually means that the child is already significantly disadvantaged in having an equal chance alongside their peers who have grown up from birth in a stable, nurturing home. To be placed 'in care' signals the loss of a basic birth right - to be nurtured and raised by sensitive, consistent parents who are attuned to your needs and can meet them.

Neglect or abuse during the formative years, when the brain and mind are ’wiring up’ to understand the world, is traumatic, particularly if the experience has featured consistent abuse and/or neglect. When traumatic experiences are over, the symptoms are not, and a child could be consumed by the impact of their trauma well into their adulthood if they do not receive the right help. Once they are placed with us, we do everything we possibly can to heal the trauma of abuse, neglect, loss and rejection.

Foster Parents Play a Vital Role

Foster parents are a vital component of our care model. Our placement breakdown rates are very low indeed - testimony that very few children are too difficult to look after in a suitably matched family.

Therapeutic fostering isn’t about becoming a therapist, it is a way of parenting a child who missed out on healthy emotional development and milestones in their early years. Traumatised children need a lot of help and encouragement to develop the positive self-esteem and confidence they need to do well in education and life in general. We have many truly exceptional families who do this impressive work every day.

We all have a genuine sense of responsibility to help each other uphold the values and principles of our organisational culture.

Our Team

Every Foster family will have a dedicated team of support which include:

Link Worker

When you become a Foster Parent you will be designated a Link Worker who will be on hand to guide and advise your throughout your placements. Weekly phone calls and monthly visits will help you resolve any problems you may be facing, recognise your successes and generally be on hand to help and support you and the child(ren) that you look after.

Education Advisor

We have a team of in-house, full-time Education Advisors / Grow-Achieve-Learn Consultants (EAGaLs) who are designated to every child or young person in our care to ensure they reach their full potential. They also help to develop certain lifestyle skills, reach educational goals and advise them on further education routes after school, e.g. college or university.

Regional Psychotherapist

We appreciate that Fostering can be both emotionally and physically demanding, that’s why we have regional psychotherapists who can offer consultations if there’s ever a time you want to talk through any problems or issues you may be facing. This can be done over the phone or during a face to face meeting or you can attend one of our therapeutic forums alongside other Foster Parents for additional support and feedback.

Out of Hours Team

You’ll never have to face a problem alone with us, that’s why we have a dedicated out of hours team who are on hand to answer your call any time, day or night. They will be able to offer you the best advice.