The Difference That MATTS Makes To Our Therapeutic Approach

You’ll often hear us talking about MATTS. It’s our one-of-a-kind therapeutic approach that offers a trauma informed approach to fostering. It recognises, that we, the adults, the carers have the responsibility to adapt to the child’s needs. But what does that mean? We reached out to our team to learn more about what MATTS means to them.

A therapeutic approach to fostering

MATTS works directly with a range of individuals, including the young people and foster carers but also offers specialist training to the wider supporting team. Out senior practitioner told us, “I’ve completed all of the MATTS training possible! I also deliver PACE (training) and, alongside clinicians, have rolled out MATTS development workshop to carers and staff.  You can instantly see the benefit the service has had on our families. The training offers a space for our families to think, reflect out loud and sometimes even involves play to understand in a training environment what we are asking from our children. I am currently working with a foster carer who supports a child on the Full MATTS offering and through his 1-2-1 sessions his young person has been able to re-regulate himself from a wide range of behaviours, while the foster carer has a better understanding of what support his young man needs from him through a trauma informed lens. I feel the service as a whole has created deeper understanding of attachment, relationships within the home and being in a place of curiosity and openness.”

Our foster carers also find the support from MATTS gives them a safe space to reflect on their parenting approaches, one foster carer said, “The MATTS clinicians are very helpful. The support they give offers safe and confidential spaces to discuss any concerns I have about the child I’m caring for. It's good because they discuss strategies to support them which I find very helpful. I also enjoyed the PACE training; it was so helpful that I always refresh it when it’s comes round to pick up any new tips. It’s so insightful and helps me to think and respond differently to children's behaviour. I could see the changes as soon as I started doing things differently. I’ve even used a PACE approach towards my own grandchildren!”

A therapeutic approach to the way care is delivered is adopted throughout the entire organisation, ensuring that everyone has an understanding of what these vulnerable children have experienced. “The recent MATTS workshop delivered to the family matching team was so insightful. It really helped us to understand the impact of neglect on babies and how the MATTS team can best support. It was a fascinating session, and our Family Matching Team really appreciated the time and investment from the MATTS team.” Area Family Matching Manager, Sarah informed us. The matching of children to the right fostering family is such a vital function for any fostering organisation, this additional training within the team helps them better understand a child’s needs and supports them in finding them a home that is right for them.

While MATTS arrangements are a specialist form of care for children who’ve experienced trauma, the therapeutic approach to support and training it provides is available to all. As one team manager was keen to highlight. “Our clinical lead, has started to facilitate a space for our carers and Supervising Social Workers through one-to-one bookings to think about children that aren’t in the position to be offered therapeutic input via MATTS or another avenue. This means that while not all of our fostering families have access to MATTS that actually all our families can benefit from clinician oversight guidance. It is what makes FosterCare UK truly unique.”

Ready to get started on your fostering journey? Call FosterCare UK today on 0800 012 4004 to speak with a friendly advisor.