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Lioncare Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Childcare & Education

We are now accepting applications from learners wishing to join Cohort 18 of the course, due to begin in September 2019.

The taught element of the course is based in Brighton & Hove and runs for 21 weeks (excluding school holidays).

Please contact admin@lioncare.co.uk for an application form and course programme.

Consultancy to Foster Carers

The Lioncare Group can be commissioned by Local Authorities and Fostering Agencies to offer Consultancy to Foster Carers with the aim of supporting them in their professional roles as carers to Looked After Children.  Consultancy to Foster Carers is especially effective where the carers are relatively new to fostering, where there are concerns as to the sustainability of the placement, where the carers are experiencing difficulty coping with the day-to-day demands of the role, and where the child displays complex and challenging needs.

Experience and Qualifications:

The Consultant, Matt Vince, has over 24 years of direct experience working in Residential Group Homes for children and adults, and Therapeutic Communities for children, variously taking up the role of Care Worker (adolescents), Bank Relief Worker (Learning Disabilities), Residential Social Worker, Therapeutic Carer, Senior Therapeutic Carer, Deputy Manager, Registered Manager, Operations Manager and currently Exectuive Director of The Lioncare Group.

Matt has over 20 years experience providing formal supervision to colleagues at all levels and posts, 19 years experience working with and running SEBD education and a Therapeutic School, 15 years experience creating, developing and facilitating monthly work-based Group Process Meetings, and experience as a Small-Group Facilitator at group-relations conferences run by The Centre for Emotional Development in addition to being a  participating member of Group Relations Conferences and Group Analytic Residential Workshops.

Matt is currently the Chair of the Community of Community (Royal College of Psychiatrists) Children & Young People Therapeutic Communities Network, a Committee Member of the ICHA, and Course Organiser for the CACHE accredited Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Child Care and Education, and an Independent External Consultant to Foster Carers.

Matt holds the B.Sc. [hons] in Experimental Psychology (University of Sussex), a Certificate in Introduction to Group Analysis (Institute of Group Analysis), a Post Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Child Care (University of Reading), and an M.A. in Consultation & the Organisation (University of East London/Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust).

The Tavistock Approach to Consultancy:

The Tavistock Approach to Consultancy[1] recognises that sometimes an ‘external mind’ is required to help others explore issues, look at what is happening ‘beneath the surface’, and support the level of thinking needed for change to be effective and sustainable[2].

This form of consultancy has been developed at The Tavistock Clinic, The Tavistock Institute, and The Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust over many decades.  It differs from other forms by combining psychoanalytic theory, group psychodynamics, and systems thinking to create a framework for working with the conscious and unconscious processes in individuals and groups and networks.  It helps us to explore how these are connected to and become manifest in the various structures and functions existing in our work. Much emphasis is placed on the importance of personal experience in affecting effective change, and the impact of interpersonal and intergroup relationships on the work-task.

Task of the Consultancy:

The relative success of any consultancy begins with establishing clear agreement by all parties on the specific task of the consultancy, and remaining ‘On-Task’ throughout the consultancy process. The primary task of is often stated as being to support the continuation and success of the foster placement.

The specific outcomes of the consutlancy are agreed at the commissioning stage, and may include one or more of the following:

  1. Provide the Foster Carers regular (i.e. weekly or fortnightly) process consultation sessions each lasting 60 minutes for the purpose of supporting them in thinking about and reflecting on what is happening whilst it is happening in relation to their role as foster carers to the child.
  2. Where practical and feasible, offer guidance and advice in the form of role consultation on interventions and strategies the Foster Carers might employ in their professional carer role with the child.
  3. Assist the Foster Carers in thinking about managing the child’s behaviour.
  4. Help the Foster Carers make sense of the impact of the child’s needs and behaviours on them, and offer the carers strategies for knowing how to cope with what the child presents.
  5. Help others to better understand the child.
  6. Maintain a summary note of each session and provide the commissioning authority with progress reports.

[1] Huffington et al (2004): Working below the Surface. H. Karnac (Books) Ltd. London

[2] Obholzer, A. and Roberts, V.Z. (1994): The Unconscious at Work – individual and organisational stress in the human services. Routledge. London

 

For further information or an informal chat, contact Matt

E:  matt@lioncare.co.uk

T: 01273 720424

 

Testimonial from Former Client

To Whom it may concern:

Matt has supported us since September 2011, initially weekly and more recently fortnightly with our work as foster carers with our foster child who has been in placement with us since July 2011.

I think it would be true to say that Matt has seen our ‘highs and lows’ during this time. He has been extremely helpful in a variety of ways;  ‘normalising’ for us our foster child’s behaviours and sometimes our responses, taking us through the stages of the child’s development and linking  to theory, encouraging us to remember the progress he has made when we are experiencing yet another setback, and more importantly believing and trusting us.

Matt has always been professional with a very down to earth, realistic approach. This has been particularly useful to us. We have felt that we could call him  between sessions if we were really struggling  or we needed clarity.

He always responded and reassured us. I have really loved and valued the therapeutic approach.

Regards

Foster Carers (names removed for safegaurding reasons)

 

Latest News

Rainbow Flag Award:
The Lioncare Group, led by The Lioncare School, is proud to announce it is working towards achieving The Rainbow Flag Award.

The Rainbow Flag Award is a national quality assurance framework for all schools and colleges, focusing on LGBT+, (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, plus other related identities), inclusion and visibility. The Rainbow Flag Award encourages a whole organisation approach to LGBT+ inclusion, as well as developing strategies to combat LGBTphobic bullying.

You can find out more about The Rainbow Flag Award and associated projects by following these links:

https://www.theproudtrust.org/

http://www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/

http://thekitetrust.org.uk/

Continous Improvement:
Across The Lioncare Group, we continue to reflect on and learn from our experience, drive improvements, and embed best practice in our systems, processes, and procedures to ensure that our children receive the very best safe care and education that we can offer.

Don't Just Take Our Word For It:
We recently received the following endorsements from two former children (now adults) that we cared for in our Homes and School:

From M.C: Thank you for helping me over the years that I lived in Lioncare, if it was not for you and your company (Lioncare) I don't know what would have of happened to me. I cold have of been on the street, sleeping on the streets shivering cold, thinking to myself, in fear and of being petrified every day, so yes I have been given a opportunity to be in one of the most astonishing care home companys' out there.
About my current placement. I've settled in really well, I'm getting to know the staff around me, I have already told the staff how to help me and I am helping the staff to help me. I'm going to start up the gym, one of the clubs had low functioning autistic people. the only think I enjoyed about the club was, when I guzzled down my drink, and I'd need some form of air to ecape from people, who was, for the most part, not as a led and not as intelligent as I am, do me being the only one in the club, rushed out in a hurry and I gasped some air. I am starting to know my area around me, once that all happens, I'm going to explore new place around in my area and start new clubs, my plan is to invest my time in as many new opportunities and adventures as I can.
Overall my time in Lioncare has been really amazing and I thank you and your staff for helping me in the best possible way ever.

From C.H: Basically I've been hit a few times at work now etc. etc. and it bought it all home to me about how you adults put up with so much from us young people lol, and I suppose I was just gonna say sorry for everything xx

We have also received the following praise from the Placing Authority of a child attending our School:

Thank you for completing such a comprehensive PEP document for M (child); it's a delight to read. I can see that there have been so many positives this term, and he continues to make progress within the Y3 curriculum. There appear to be challenges too, particularly ones that begin with his self-esteem; I'm sure you do everything possible to support this at all times.
The progress on his targets is pleasing. Being able to infer meaning is a difficult skill, which begins with the 'how do you think the character feels'. Being able to pinpoint the evidence from the text takes it to the next level, and I can see that M (child) has just started on this. With regard to his partially meeting his fraction targets, he's on the way to understanding this concept if he appreciates that its all about parts being equal. I'm sure with over-learning of this, he will get there.
It's lovely to see his artwork too, so thank you for uploading. I look forward to reading his next PEP.

Supporting Worthy Causes:
On 25th July 2018, a group of adults and children from Hillfields undertook a sponsored trek to the summit of Mount Snowden in Wales, to raise money for the Rockinghorse Children's Charity.
Rockinghorse is a Brighton-based charity that has been supporting children for over 50 years. It was set up in 1967 by Dr. Trevor Mann, who recognised there was a real need for additional resources to improve healthcare services for sick children and babies.
You can find out more about Rockinghorse Children's Charity by following this link: https://www.rockinghorse.org.uk/about-us
Hillfields managed to raise £483.00 for the charity!

Feedback:
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info@lioncare.co.uk