The Psychological Well Being of Looked After Children
Emotional Warmth Model of Professional Child Care
The Pillars of Parenting is the sole provider of ‘The Emotional Warmth Model of Professional Child Care’.
TAPPING INTO A POWERFUL SOURCE OF ENERGY
Our peer-reviewed practice model uses positive psychology to focus foster parents and residential childcare staff on the signature or character strengths of children and young people. This generates increased motivation and energy for everyone involved. In particular, it can shift carers’ perceptions of a young person from ‘problems’ to ‘possibilities’.
Children and young people feel valued when their strengths skills and talents are noticed, using their strengths is energising, life becomes more fun, pleasure is gained from spending time doing the things which they enjoy and when an element of difficulty or challenge is added to the activity, successful mastering of the game, task or activity can lead to spontaneous feeling of joy and the experience of flow!
To read our peer reviewed article, click here!
Cameron, R.J. and Maginn, C. (2011) Living Psychology: The 'emotional warmth' dimension of professional childcare. Educational & Child Psychology Vol. 28. No 3. p44-62.
Of course we are also concerned about children and young peoples emotional trauma, so our practice model involves certified Pillars of Parenting psychologist working with foster parents and residential staff to address the following questions (a) what are the psychological and parenting needs of these children? (b) how can residential and foster parents be enabled to meet these subtle, complex and often challenging needs? and c) how can we shift the emphasis in childcare from an over-concentration on young people’s problems to an additional focus on their potential?
Empowering Foster Parents
The ‘Emotional Warmth’ model of child care gives foster parents the tools and skills to understanding and respond to children’s emotional trauma. This is achieved by ongoing training and consultations with Pillars of Parenting psychologists. In a nutshell, our ‘Emotional Warmth’ approach is ‘living psychology’!
One fostering group using the Pillars of Parenting have had no placement breakdowns for over two years. Using the Demos calculations, the Local Authority saved over £100,000!
Click here for more information on our support for Foster Parents
Dr Sean Cameron & Colin Maginn quoted in House of Commons debate
Children in Care
House of Commons debates, 10 February 2011, 5:37 pm
Edward Timpson MP
"The challenge for social work is to provide the quality of care and support that is to be found not just in the average family home, but also in the most functional of families."
From: R. J. Cameron and C. Maginn (2008)
'The Authentic Warmth Dimension of Professional Childcare' Br J Soc Work (2008) 38 (6): 1151-1172.
Two well informed MPs Edward Timpson (Crewe and Nantwich, Conservative) and Tim Loughton (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Education) debate issues relating to children in care, including their views on residential child care. The debate is well worth reading to get an insight into the grasp which both MPs have on the subject and an important update from Tim Loughton on Government thinking and plans.
Click here for the link to the debate:
Healing Emotionally Traumatised Children Through Psychologically Informed Parenting
The 'Emotional Warmth’ model of professional child care empowers carers with the understanding, skills and training to respond to children’s emotional trauma. This is achieved by regular ongoing consultations with registered applied psychologists and training leading to a qualification.
With pressure on public spending, having a practice model which is published, peer reviewed and nationally recognised, becomes a necessity.
Click here for a brochure which outlines our model of professional child care
Love resurrection
The relationship between the child and the carer is the key to a stable placement. The Pillars of Parenting empowers foster parents and residential workers with the psychological theory and research to enable them to understand and respond to the emotional trauma and parental rejection, which many looked after children, have endured.
This is achieved by combining the existing carer’s detailed knowledge of the child with the experience, theoretical knowledge and skills of trained chartered psychologists.
Click here to read "Love resurrection" Colin Maginn - In Young Minds Magazine March 2011
Article in The British Journal of Social Work
In The Authentic Warmth Dimension of Professional Childcare Cameron and Maginn (2008), outline theories on successful emotional, social and academic development of children in public care.
'Caring for looked-after children - not the cost' & other articles
'Caring for looked-after children - not the cost'
By Colin Maginn (August 2010)
Article in the LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHRONICLE
Click here for: Caring for looked-after children - not the cost
A hard hitting article which sets the emotional costs of some commonly accepted bad practices, with the short term financial costs and possible long term costs to individuals, public health and society.
Rejected and Alone
If “Social rejection is a bit like being knocked on the head with a brick” Prof R Baumeister (2005) p 733 Then parental rejection must be a bit like getting run over by a bus... We believe that parental rejection is a major factor in the emotional, social and academic problems of children in care.
Click Here for Rejected and Alone
See also:
Parental Acceptance Rejection Theory
R. P. Rohner Parental Acceptance Rejection Theory
Get The Book
Achieving Positive Outcomes for Children in Care Available from Sage. If you work for an organisation which uses our services, you may be entitled to a free copy.
