Helping carers use the TCIF approach
TCIF is not just a training course. It is not just another package of child care techniques. It is a comprehensive, therapeutic approach to helping children who have suffered developmental trauma.
Carers will need the full support of your agency if they are to use the ideas and techniques we teach on the course. The most helpful support should come from a supervising social worker who is very familiar with TCIF.
Carers will need the full support of your agency if they are to use the ideas and techniques we teach on the course. The most helpful support should come from a supervising social worker who is very familiar with TCIF.
The following guidelines will help you provide the best support for your carers:
1. Train all your staff including senior managers.
Managers will need to know all about the TCIF approach so they can set things up to help carers use TCIF. And supervising social workers will need to be thoroughly familiar with the knowledge, skills and attitudes we teach on the course so they can advise carers on how to use TCIF. All staff in your fostering service should attend the TCIF course. If you are able to train staff first this will help you to make a plan to implement TCIF thoroughly through the agency and get the best out of TCIF.
2. Train supervising social workers in the TCIF method of supervision and incident review.
Supervising social workers need to be experts in TCIF. We look at supervising social workers as the carers’ on the job trainer. Supervising social workers need to be able to visit the carers regularly to provide emotional support, to coach carers in the use of the TCIF techniques and to help problem solve any difficulties in the placement. So supervising social workers need to be trained in TCIF, need to be provided with regular refresher training and they also need to be trained in the TCI method of incident review.
3. Train everyone.
Both carers should be trained. If one carer is not trained in TCIF, he or she won’t understand what the other carer is doing. The training is best delivered over 4 or 5 consecutive days but can be delivered in a variety of different ways, including weekly evening sessions, each lasting between 3 and 4 hours.
4. Write support plans for children with behaviour problems.
It helps to get down in writing which of the TCIF techniques will be most useful with a particular child. We provide a model for this; a one page, plain English guide to what triggers a child, what behaviours to expect and which of the TCIF strategies to use to help the child. The crisis management plan should be regularly reviewed with the supervising social worker and improved as everyone learns more about the child and the behaviour.
5. Provide regular refresher training for carers.
This can be through support groups or separate training sessions. Refresher training should remind carers of the TCIF knowledge, skills and attitudes and help carers develop their skills. It should also provide an opportunity to discuss children’s behaviour and problem solve any issues a carer is experiencing.
Managers will need to know all about the TCIF approach so they can set things up to help carers use TCIF. And supervising social workers will need to be thoroughly familiar with the knowledge, skills and attitudes we teach on the course so they can advise carers on how to use TCIF. All staff in your fostering service should attend the TCIF course. If you are able to train staff first this will help you to make a plan to implement TCIF thoroughly through the agency and get the best out of TCIF.
2. Train supervising social workers in the TCIF method of supervision and incident review.
Supervising social workers need to be experts in TCIF. We look at supervising social workers as the carers’ on the job trainer. Supervising social workers need to be able to visit the carers regularly to provide emotional support, to coach carers in the use of the TCIF techniques and to help problem solve any difficulties in the placement. So supervising social workers need to be trained in TCIF, need to be provided with regular refresher training and they also need to be trained in the TCI method of incident review.
3. Train everyone.
Both carers should be trained. If one carer is not trained in TCIF, he or she won’t understand what the other carer is doing. The training is best delivered over 4 or 5 consecutive days but can be delivered in a variety of different ways, including weekly evening sessions, each lasting between 3 and 4 hours.
4. Write support plans for children with behaviour problems.
It helps to get down in writing which of the TCIF techniques will be most useful with a particular child. We provide a model for this; a one page, plain English guide to what triggers a child, what behaviours to expect and which of the TCIF strategies to use to help the child. The crisis management plan should be regularly reviewed with the supervising social worker and improved as everyone learns more about the child and the behaviour.
5. Provide regular refresher training for carers.
This can be through support groups or separate training sessions. Refresher training should remind carers of the TCIF knowledge, skills and attitudes and help carers develop their skills. It should also provide an opportunity to discuss children’s behaviour and problem solve any issues a carer is experiencing.