Bridging the gap between foster care and birth families: How the Circle of Security Parenting Programme™ inspired change within a therapeutic service for looked after children and young people

Abstract

The 8 week Circle of Security Parenting Programme™ (COSP) was delivered to parents who were working with Children’s Services in Monmouthshire. The group was delivered to help support children’s transition back to birth parents following a period of time in foster care. This process highlighted the impact on parent’s human rights; not only through having their children removed from their care but their experience of parenting a child alongside a corporate parent (Children’s Services). Parents reported feeling scrutinised, unsupported and degraded at times. This led us to consider how we can promote the human rights of parents to continue to parent their child whilst also balance the rights of the child to receive safe, nurturing, predictable care. Changes to service delivery followed with more consideration and open discussion about the human rights of both parent and child during our regular consultations. In addition, we are working more closely with the Family Time Team who supervise contact between families. This work is to promote the human rights of parents and children to continue to have a positive relationship and to share this approach with our foster carers, bridging the gap between them and the birth family.