Therapeutic Under 13s Program. In 2011-2012 Impact had an increased number of referrals for males...
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Transcript of Therapeutic Under 13s Program. In 2011-2012 Impact had an increased number of referrals for males...
In 2011-2012 Impact had an increased number of referrals for males under 13 years of age
Presenting behaviours were more complex, challenging and violent
Recognising the need for more innovative interventions, staff with specific skills and rethink our resources
The story of a young boy named Bill, 9 years old.
Identifying the urgent need for something different
To develop and deliver a Trauma Informed Model of Care for children under the age of 13 who were presenting in the residential OOHC system
To design and deliver a therapeutic program with the aim of assisting children to develop regulation skills in order to sustain a foster care placement
To have the children ready for foster care within 6 months of entering the program
To better understand what was needed to adapt our Model of Care (ARC+C) to better meet the needs of this cohort
Our Goals
Impact had employed Youth Workers who did not want to work with this cohort
We really needed to unpack this issue with staff and the Management
Impact had to consider our recruitment and induction processes
Differing emotional needs meant differing resources – physical restraint
We had to ensure that our staff really understood Safe Attachment
Embedding all of this into therapeutic practice and then training
Organisational Challenges
5
A R C C+
Safety and structure to
stabilise distress
Feelings & regulation of
behaviour
Strengths and life skills
Protective links and sense of
belonging
Impact’s program model
Attachment Regulation Competency Community
6
Building blocks for ATTACHMENT
Carers understand
trauma &
manage their own feelings &
reactions
All carers give
consistent responses
Carers are attuned to the
child:
active listening, noticing triggers
Routines & rituals are predictable,
constant
The most valuable ways that staff contribute to attachment
7
ARC+C building blocks
ATTACHMENT
REGULATION
COMPETENCY
COMMUNITY
Carers understand
trauma
Carers attuned
Consistent responses
Routines and rituals
Recognise feelings & triggers
Expand ‘comfort
zone’
Express feelings safely
Problem solving skills
Positive sense of self
Trauma experience integrated
Belonging
What we came up with
A large eight bedroom house with three lounge rooms, three dining rooms, four bathrooms and a spacious undercover outdoors area
A property on acreage including an in ground pool surrounded by bushland and nature reserves located near the Hawkesbury River
A great therapeutic program focusing on Trauma Recovery and Safe Attachments with the aim of preparing the young people to sustain a foster care placement
Routine - Weekly schedules now more than ever needed to be predictable and consistent
Care team consisting of Residential Manager, House Co-ordinator, Intensive Support Workers, and Clinicians
Highly structured program
A therapeutic model of care for children under 13 (ARC+C)
Use of physical intervention to assist emotional regulation
Focus on education
Rural property providing more relaxed lifestyle and space
Specific criteria for client matching
Focused recruitment and staff training
Critical Elements
Unavailability of suitable foster care placements High cost of running program due to staffing levels and
property damage Landlord asking us to leave the property due to damage Finding a new property Managing violent behaviours in children Difficulty client matching and the impact on other young
people and the program Operational challenges such as appointments, family
contacts Staff require a high level of support to critically reflect on
their practice and debriefing Expectations of caseworkers and other external parties
Learning and Challenges
Environmental safety plan Risk assessments Age is different- coming up to 13 years No on site senior manager Community involvement – scheduled activities All children engaged in education, external
therapy, community groups The program has a high level of activity and
play Cultural program for children and the care
team
Where we are today