Who these services are for
We offer a range of services for looked after children and adolescent who are fostered or in kinship care (i.e. in the care of their extended families or friends).
Adopted children and their families and adults who have been adopted.
We also offer help for young people in the transitional period as they leave care, and for carers and adoptive parents who are struggling to cope with their child's emotional and behavioural problems.
We offer consultation to professionals and professional networks working with children who are looked after and in kinship care and with adoptive families.
Kinship carers, foster carers and adoptive parents are often in need of specialist services.
Families frequently struggle with severe and sometimes undiagnosed problems that children can bring with them. We aim to produce a secure basis for families over tiime, enabling them to develop attachments whilst addressing experiences of trauma and loss. We work very closely with professional networks to ensure joined-up working.
Kinds of treatment offered
A range of consultation, assessment and treatment packages are available. These include treatment for children in transition and post-adoptive work.
The following interventions may be offered by themselves or in combination after an initial assessment with families and professionals:
- family therapy
- individual therapeutic work with children/young people, alongside work with parents and carers
- work with siblings
- parenting groups
- work with kinship carers and children
- liaison with schools, education departments and social services
- psychoactive medication.
Comprehensive assessments may be followed by longer-term individual or family treatment, the aim of which is to care for the mental health of the child or adolescent, and to alleviate any problems faced by adoptive parents, carers and other family members.
The service includes consultation with carers and with relevant social service departments.
How to access these services
A family can be referred to this service by their GP.
A referral can be made for for a named child or family if the referral is supported by a funding agreement.
Referrals can be accepted for specific pieces of work if a funding agreement has been made by agencies outside the clinic's funding contract, for example, voluntary agencies, social care organisations and health authorities outside our geographical area.
