Let’s discover the importance of tailoring a foster child’s environment to their needs and share some tips to help you build a safe and nurturing home for the young person in your care.
Why do children in foster care need safe spaces?
Many children who spend time in foster care will have experienced complex trauma. The UK Trauma Council defines complex trauma as ‘traumatic experiences involving multiple events with interpersonal threats during childhood or adolescence.’ This can arise as a result of abuse, neglect, or any other form of adverse childhood experience.
The effects of trauma are ongoing and can shape much about the way a child’s brain develops and how they behave and interact with the world. By creating safe and nurturing home environments, we as foster parents and professionals can ensure that children are surrounded by love, security, and the right circumstances in which to heal and grow.
Trauma-informed training
As a foster parent with Clifford House, you’ll benefit from our trauma-informed training. To be trauma-informed means to approach a child’s care with an awareness of how their early experiences have influenced different aspects of their lives, including their behaviours and the relationships they form with others.
At Clifford House, we use scientifically backed PACE parenting techniques to support children to achieve great outcomes with their foster families. PACE parenting strategies help children to feel safe, to explore, and to understand their world in relation to their trauma. Therapeutic parenting supports children to grow into well-adjusted adults with bright futures awaiting them.
Tips for creating a safe and stable home environment for a foster child
One of the prerequisites to becoming a foster parent is that you are able to provide a child with a room of their own in a stable home environment. A safe and stable home environment is about more than just abiding by health and safety regulations— it’s about creating a comforting culture within your home, where family members feel respected and valued.
Let’s look at some ways in which you can help your house to feel like a home for a child in your care.
- Make your foster child feel at home
A warm welcome goes a long way to developing long-lasting, trusting bonds. Read your young person’s referral in detail so that you can get to know more about them, and make an effort to meet them in person before they move in with you, if possible. Never hesitate to reach out to the child’s social worker if you have any questions or if you need more information about a young person.
When your foster child first moves in, there are lots of ways you can help them to feel comfortable and safe. Follow their verbal and behavioural ques in terms of how they’d feel most comfortable— for example, you wouldn’t want to pressure a child to open up about their feelings or to come down from their bedroom top spend time with the family if they were not yet ready. That being said, make it clear that you are always open to talk, that you excitedly welcome their involvement and that they’re part of the family.
Using the techniques you use during your PACE training at this time— including playfulness, curiosity and empathy— can be invaluable in helping to build trust at this early stage. Remember, you can always rely on the support of your Supervising Social Worker and our phone line team if you need any assistance or tips when caring for a new child.
- Make their bedroom a sanctuary
Every person in your household needs privacy and to have their boundaries respected. Ensuring that the young person in your care has their own room allows them the privacy they need and a safe haven to call their own when they are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just need some time to unwind or get some homework done in peace and quiet.
When a child first comes to live with you, we recommend that you keep their bedroom neutral and tailor it with a few home comforts informed by any likes or dislikes you know of. For example, if you learn from their referral that they love a particular cartoon programme, you could purchase them a cuddly toy of their favourite character, or leave a hamper on their bed containing snacks, new toiletries and your family book to help them feel more at home.
When your foster child is a little more settled, it can be a lovely bonding experience to take them out shopping to buy some new things to make their bedroom feel more their own. Whether this be new bedding, posters, stationery or toys, being able to customise their space can make it feel like home more quickly.
- Encourage open communication
One of the most important ways in which you can build a safe and comforting home environment for your foster child is by creating a harmonious culture within your everyday family life. Ensure that your home is a nurturing place where family member’s differences are embraced and everyone feels listened to and respected. Boundaries within the family home should be clear and fair.
Effective communication is a key factor in crafting such a peaceful and warm environment. You’ll be able to use the skills which you have learn during your trauma-informed training to ensure that a child feels safe to communicate their feelings to you. Factors like body language, tone of voice and active listening can all contribute to a healthy communication style within your home.
You can also take part in additional training on our online learning platform at any time which suits you, with helpful courses available such as ‘Communication with children’ and ‘Communication: two ears, one mouth.’ By utilising the strategies above, you can help to ensure that you’re creating the best possible environment for your foster child to thrive.
Consider fostering in the West Midlands today
At Clifford House our team of foster parents and professionals work tirelessly to protect and nurture children across the West Midlands. If you’re considering opening up your home to create a safe space for a child in Birmingham, Worcestershire or the wider area, enquire with our friendly team to learn how you can begin making a difference to children today.