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 support for foster carers and children.
About this training
Discover the impactful Reflective Fostering model developed by experts at Anna Freud, supporting foster and kinships carers to look after their own wellbeing while building strong, and supportive relationships with children who have experienced trauma and adversity.
The programme provides practical tools to help carers:
promote children's emotional and behavioural wellbeing
reduce stress and improve carers' quality of life
strengthen the carer-child relationship
support placement stability
reduce feelings of burnout.
The Reflective Fostering Programme has been piloted and evaluated, most recently through a large-scale national randomised controlled trial (RCT) - The Reflective Fostering Study.
Aims of this training
To learn about the key features of Reflective Fostering, its theoretical link to reflective functioning, attachment theory and developmental trauma, and its application to working with carers of children who are living in foster or kinship care
To promote practitioner abilities in employing a mentalizing stance in work with foster and kinship carers
To develop practitioner skills in providing mentalizing tools to foster and kinship carers to help explain and practice Reflective Fostering
To describe and introduce professionals in the running of a Reflective Fostering Group and the steps required to become an accredited group practitioner
This training aims to equip professionals supporting foster carers and kinship carers with the skills needed to deliver a 10-session carer psycho-education intervention, delivered either individually or in an evidence-based group.
Who is this training for?
This course caters to professionals working with foster and kinship carers, aiming to support these carers of children aged 4 to 11 years old. Delegates who would like to go on to facilitate Reflective Fostering groups would benefit from attending the training with their co-facilitator as the group model employs a co-facilitation model. However, solo facilitators can also lead groups. Professionals working with individual carers can integrate mentalizing theory and Reflective Fostering tools into their practice.
While not specifically designed for carers of infants or adolescents, the mentalizing tools are applicable across populations, with potential adaptations explored in training or through further consultation. The model is currently being developed for use with carers of adolescents.
If you are unsure if this training is right for you or your team, 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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This training assumes a foundational understanding of mentalization. Prior to starting Reflective Fostering training, completion of the self-guided online training “An Introduction to Supporting Children and Families with MBT” (MBT CYP) is mandatory.
This e-learning can be purchased alongside your Reflective Fostering training for the reduced price of £100. If purchased, you will gain access to the e-learning one month before your Reflective Fostering training begins, and you will have 10 months to complete this.
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 Fostering training.
If, for any reason, you require access to the training sooner than one month prior to the training start date, please contact MBTCYP@annafreud.org and we will be able to grant you access.
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After completing the online An Introduction to Supporting Children and Families with MBT e-learning and the MBT-Reflective Fostering training, you will have a sound understanding of mentalizing theory and its practice with carers utilising the Reflective Fostering model. You’ll have developed a range of skills in establishing an alliance and working collaboratively with carers and will have developed skills in the use of the Reflective Fostering tools. We hope you will be able to bring this knowledge to your current practice, whatever setting you are working in.
For those aspiring to fully train as an MBT-Reflective Fostering practitioner to deliver co-facilitated groups, we would strongly recommend ongoing support and consultation with an accredited Reflective Fostering consultant. Recognition as an MBT-Reflective Fostering Practitioner requires consultation during the delivery of the 10-week Reflective Fostering Group. Please contact the training team for further information.
Completion of the training will give you access to the manual and group slides to deliver the 10-week program. However, without consultations, it is not possible to become a registered Reflective Fostering Practitioner.
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Becoming a Reflective Fostering Practitioner requires you to have delivered a Reflective Fostering Group and to have received supervision from a recognised Reflective Fostering Consultant. Reflective Fostering Groups are run with two facilitators; please ensure you can deliver the group with another professional who has participated in a Reflective Fostering training. After completing the MBT-CYP online course and MBT-Reflective Fostering training:
Confirm agreement with your employer to run a Reflective Fostering Group and identify a suitable group of foster and/or kinship carers.
Contact mbtcyp@annafreud.org to arrange for supervision with a recognised Reflective Fostering Consultant. This will involve 6 one-hour consultation sessions and 1 one-hour video review session. The total cost for the consultation process is £1,400.
Obtain group participants' consent for filming some group sessions for use in consultations.
Administer pre- and post-group measures to foster carers to assess outcomes.
Complete a Reflective Fostering Wheel after each session, self-assessing your mentalizing skills.
After completing the group and six consultation meetings and one video clip review, the consultant will register you as a Reflective Fostering practitioner, ensuring adherence to the model and good governance of the Reflective Fostering intervention has been met.
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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:
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