How is therapy for foster parents arranged?

Therapy for foster parents is arranged through a structured process that starts with identifying a need, agreeing what support would be appropriate and making the necessary referral or appointment. The process should take account of your fostering role, the impact of caring for children with complex experiences and any practical or personal circumstances that may affect your ability to engage.

1. Recognising that support may be useful

A need for therapy may be identified at several points in the fostering journey. You might raise it yourself during your assessment, training, supervision or a review, or a social worker may suggest that therapeutic support could be helpful. It may also be discussed after a difficult placement experience, a significant change in the household or concerns about stress, sleep, relationships or emotional wellbeing.

Asking about therapy does not necessarily mean that you are unable to foster. It is usually treated as part of understanding what support would help you carry out the role safely and sustainably.

2. Discussing your circumstances

The fostering professional involved will normally talk with you about what has prompted the request and what you would like help with. This may include:

• the effect of fostering responsibilities on your mood, confidence, sleep or relationships;
• feelings connected with a child’s behaviour, trauma or changing needs;
• experiences of loss, allegations, placement endings or conflict;
• earlier experiences that are being brought to the surface by fostering; and
• the kind of practical and emotional support you already have.

You do not usually need to provide a complete account of your life before support can be considered. The purpose of the discussion is to establish the broad nature of the concern and identify an appropriate route into help.

3. Deciding how the therapy will be funded and managed

The arrangement depends on why therapy is being requested and whether it is part of support from the fostering service or something you are pursuing independently. The service may explain what it can fund or organise, any approval needed before an appointment is made and what information it requires to process the request.

If you choose a therapist independently, check the position with your fostering service before starting if you want to ask whether the cost can be covered. Funding arrangements, approved providers and reimbursement processes can differ, so you should not assume that every private appointment will be paid for.

4. Providing information for the referral

A referral may include your contact details, a short description of the issue, relevant fostering information and any preferences or practical requirements. You should be told what information is being passed on and why. If the referral involves sensitive personal information, ask how it will be recorded, who can access it and what information may be shared with the fostering team.

Where there are safeguarding concerns or a serious risk to you, a child or another person, information may need to be shared with the appropriate professionals. The limits of privacy should be explained before therapy begins rather than being left unclear.

5. Preparing for the first appointment

At the first session, the therapist will generally discuss the reason for the referral, your priorities and the way sessions will work. You can ask about their experience of working with foster carers or people affected by trauma, how progress will be reviewed and what happens if the support is not suitable.

It is also reasonable to clarify the practical arrangements, including the location or method of sessions, appointment length, cancellation terms, fees and how to rearrange an appointment. These details should be understood before you commit to ongoing sessions.

6. Keeping the fostering service informed

Therapy and fostering supervision are separate activities, although they may sit alongside one another. Your therapist should not normally be expected to provide a detailed account of what you discuss. The fostering service may only need limited information, such as whether support is in place, whether further arrangements are recommended or whether a practical adjustment would help you continue safely.

If therapy relates to a specific placement, the social worker may also consider whether other support is needed for the child, the wider household or the placement plan. This should be discussed with you so that you understand the purpose of any additional action.

7. Reviewing the arrangement

Therapy arrangements are not always fixed from the outset. You, the therapist and the relevant fostering professional may review whether the support remains suitable, whether the original goals have changed or whether another form of help is more appropriate. A review may lead to a planned ending, a further referral or a discussion about different support.

If the therapist is not a good fit, the sessions are difficult to access or the approach does not address your needs, raise this rather than stopping without explanation. The fostering service may be able to discuss an alternative route, subject to its own arrangements and any relevant approval.