TT-LAAC is a multidisciplinary specialist service. We work with children, their caregivers, parents and the professionals involved in their care (caregiver network) to reduce placement instability and disruption and also to promote the emotional and psychological development and wellbeing of LAAC. TT-LAAC is a creative ground for innovative practice that we, in turn, cascade to LAC, FSIT, 16+, Family Placement and Adoption Support Teams. One example of this is the ‘Narrative Model’ that we have developed in the team and which we wish to put forward for an award.
On entry to care, many children struggle with questions about why they had to leave their birth family, whose fault it was and whether they will be returning home or not. Often, there are also questions about their current placement, their future care and the complex legal process that is launched on entry. The literature, Case reviews and TT-LAAC service experience highlighted to us that responding to these questions is a complex task fraught with dilemmas for adults. In this context, children can develop myths that compound feelings of self-blame and shame which can, in turn, undermine placement stability, educational performance and emotional health and wellbeing.
TT-LAAC identified early information sharing as a potent opportunity for change and developed the ‘Narrative Model’ to support the caregiving network to work together and answer the children’s questions in ways that help them adjust psychologically to their newfound circumstances.
