I thought the training was excellent. I enjoyed the two days and found the content highly relevant to my work with foster carers and adopters.
Mentalization-Based Treatment for Reflective Fostering (MBT-RF)
Introducing MBT Reflective Fostering - an innovative approach transforming foster care for children and young people.
About this training
Discover the impactful Reflective Fostering model developed by experts at Anna Freud, focusing on the application of mentalizing theory and practice in addressing difficulties in emotion regulation and perspective-taking.
Our program empowers foster carers, adopters, and Looked After Children (LAC) professionals. With an emphasis on fostering mentalizing skills, our model equips carers to navigate high-conflict situations and address early developmental trauma in children transitioning to permanent adoption.
Aims of this training
In this training, you will:
Learn about the key features of Reflective Fostering and specific techniques associated with mentalizing.
Enhance practitioner skills in applying a mentalizing approach when working with professionals, foster carers, and adoptive parents.
Support professionals in observing parent-child/young person relationships, identifying breaks in mentalizing and addressing them effectively.
Develop expertise in delivering psychoeducation to foster carers and adoptive parents, focusing on understanding the impact of developmental trauma on current relational dynamics.
Who is this training for?
This course is ideal for those in social care, mental health, or private fostering, especially when training entire teams in the Reflective Fostering mentalizing approach.
Local Authority Children Looked After Services may consider involving foster parents post-care proceedings.
If you are unsure if this training is right for you, please contact our training team who will discuss your suitability with the training tutors.
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It was excellent. Very thoughtful. Engaging. Good mix of theoretical principals and interactive work. Loved the videos!
Previous attendee -
Very good with a lot of clinical practice, very useful. Sheila and Ali are presenting the material in a pleasant and humorous way.
Previous attendee
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Prior to starting Reflective Fostering training, it is essential to have a working knowledge of mentalization. Complete the self-guided online training “An Introduction to Mentalizing and Mentalization Based Treatments with Children, Young People and Families” (MBT CYP).
You will gain access to MBT CYP one month before your Reflective Fostering training begins. This self-paced training spans six hours, covering crucial topics such as mentalizing concepts, effective and ineffective mentalizing, and the mentalizing stance in Mentalization Based Treatments. Successful completion is crucial for maximising the benefits of your MBT-Reflective Parenting training.
If, for any reason, you require access to the training sooner than one month prior to the training start date, please let us know and we will be able to grant you access.
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Upon completing the online MBT CYP and Reflective Fostering training, you'll gain a robust understanding of mentalizing theory and its application using the Reflective model with foster carers. You'll acquire collaborative skills to work effectively with foster carers, adopters, and professionals in Looked After Children Services, fostering mentalizing and enhancing attachment security. We hope you will apply this knowledge across diverse settings in your current practice.
For those aspiring to become registered Reflective Fostering practitioners, ongoing support and consultation are essential. This ensures continuous development of your Reflective Fostering techniques and strengthens your ability to maintain a mentalizing stance when working with carers, adoptive parents, and CLA professionals.
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Becoming a Reflective Fostering Practitioner involves the following steps after completing the MBT CYP and MBT-Reflective Fostering online training:
Express your intent to run a group and collaborate with your line manager to identify a suitable group of parents, preferably foster carers with children aged 4-11 facing behavioural difficulties.
Coordinate with RF trainers or the Reflective Fostering clinical lead to arrange a meeting with an RF consultant.
Schedule a minimum of six meetings with a consultant at Anna Freud.
Access the manual and all necessary materials for running an RF psychoeducation group, including slides.
Obtain foster carers' consent for filming during consultation calls.
Administer pre- and post-group measures to foster carers to assess outcomes, sharing the data with the RF clinical lead for evidence collection.
Complete a Reflective Fostering Wheel after each session, self-assessing your mentalizing skills.
Working in pairs, select five clips from six of the eight sessions to send to the RF consultant for review before each consultation meeting.
After completing the group and six consultation sessions, the consultant will register you as a Reflective Fostering practitioner, ensuring adherence to the model and good governance of the Reflective Fostering intervention.
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Zoom will be used to deliver online training. Prior to booking, please ensure you meet the system requirements so you can join this training session.
To test your equipment visit Zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.
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Upon booking, you will be asked to confirm that you have read and accept our terms and conditions and our privacy notice. Please read these documents before booking:
Interested in commissioning training for your team?
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