Promoting Positive Behaviours

This chapter offers guidance for Foster Carers on managing challenging behaviour, including promoting positive behaviour and de-escalating conflicts.

Children learn how to behave by observing, listening to, and conversing with the adults who care for them. Their morals and values are developed based on how they see adults treating others.

Children require clear boundaries and consistent rules to feel safe. Foster Carers should have high expectations for the children or young people in their care and clearly define what is acceptable and what is not.

Foster Carers are expected to understand, manage, and address children and young people's behaviour, including encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions and teaching them conflict resolution skills.

It is important for foster carers to follow a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding and supporting children and young people. Foster Carers do not have to manage challenging behaviour in isolation and will receive guidance and a shared understanding of available support strategies.

Referral information, Placement Plans, safer care plans and reviews play a central role in planning and evaluating the support provided for behaviour. BFfC’s IFA will ensure that foster carers are provided with available up-to-date information, including the child's care plan. Foster Carers should have all the necessary information about the child's circumstances, including recent significant events, to understand and anticipate their needs and behaviours. Risk assessments will be put in place from the time the child comes to live with the foster carer as part of the matching process.

It is important to note, that when a foster child comes to live with a foster family, everything will be new to them, including rules, expectations and boundaries. To enable the child to settle in and adjust to this new situation, it is paramount that these are explained to them. Carers should consider the child's background and early life experiences when setting boundaries and expectations.

When it comes to setting up house rules and agreements, BFfC’s IFA will provide guidance and support.

House Rules and Agreements are important because they create a safety net for the child and also:

• Provide clear guidelines for behaviour;
• Promote stability and safety;
• Promote children's personal development, responsibility, and autonomy;
• Help children understand expectations and boundaries;
• Ensure consistency in parenting approaches across different foster carers.

Foster carers play a significant role in the day-to-day life of a child. Therefore, effective parenting, supported by training in positive behaviour management strategies can support a positive relationship with the child, promote harmony, and contribute to the child's self-esteem.

Promoting positive behaviour involves a multi-disciplinary approach and will be supported by the following elements:

• Creating an environment and culture that promotes, models, and supports positive behaviour. The culture established by the foster carer is crucial, with high expectations for all children in the household;
• Building trusted and secure relationships between the child and the carer's family, where the child feels listened to, protected, and supported. The child should develop a sense of permanence, belonging, and full inclusion in the family;
• Providing care and assistance that helps the child develop a positive self-view, form and maintain attachments, build emotional resilience, and establish their identity. This care and help are particularly essential for overcoming any previous experiences of neglect and trauma;
• Being prepared for the unknown with the support of BFfC’s IFA. This means to anticipate behaviour and in preparation cover various situations including being creative with de-escalation strategies. Remember to connect with the child before correcting them;
• Recognizing differences in behaviour that could be linked to the child’s cultural background and their early childhood experience.

Understanding the factors that contribute to challenging behaviour can help foster carers respond appropriately. Carers are encouraged to seek support, advice, and guidance when faced with challenging behaviour.

It is important that foster carers:

• Establish clear boundaries and expectations;
• Understand the triggers of challenging behaviour;
• Encourage and support the development of alternative, positive behaviours;
• Be aware of strategies for managing challenging behaviour and de-escalation strategies;
• Develop a range of creative strategies that can be used to manage challenging behaviour;
• Have access to appropriate training and support to develop their skills in managing challenging behaviour.

Consequences for negative behaviour should be used as a last resort and must be child-focused, age-appropriate, proportionate, and within the context of promoting positive behaviour.

The use of consequences that are abusive, humiliating, or degrading is strictly prohibited, such as:

• Corporal punishment;
• Withholding food, drink, or medication;
• Locking children in rooms or confined spaces;
• Using derogatory or abusive language;
• Removing essential items;
• Using peer pressure or shaming.

Consequences always need to be discussed with the child and must be supported by professionals involved in the child's care. The use of consequences must be recorded, including the reasons for their use, the duration, and any reviews undertaken.