Trauma Informed Care:
Understanding the Behaviour
Children and young people who enter foster care may have experienced things that affect how they see themselves, other people and the world around them.
Trauma can affect behaviour, emotions, learning, relationships and the ability to feel safe. Understanding trauma helps foster carers to better understand the children they care for.
Trauma informed care is about looking beyond the behaviour and asking, ‘what has happened to this child?’.
What Might Trauma Look Like?
Trauma does not present itself in a singular way. One child may become withdrawn and quiet, while another could present as angry or anxious. Children may struggle with eating, sleeping, education, relationships or managing their emotions.
Behaviour can be a method of communication. Learning to understand the experiences which drive actions helps foster carers to respond appropriately. A child who becomes upset over something that seems small may be navigating fear or loss that is much bigger than the situation itself.
The Importance of Safety and Stability
Consistency is key. Simple routines, predictable boundaries and calm responses help children understand what to expect and therefore create a sense of certainty and security.
Good communication and explanations are essential; let children know what is happening, provide choices where appropriate, explain changes in advance and follow through with your actions.
Trust is not built overnight, but something that takes time and consistency. Children and young people may need to experience the same safe, reliable response many times before they feel secure.
Regulate First, Then Reflect
When a child is in a state of emotional distress or overwhelm, they may not be able to respond to reasoning or lengthy conversations.
Use a calm tone and provide space where safe to do so. Reducing stimulation and remaining nearby may be more helpful than trying to solve the problem in that moment.
Once the child is calm, you can discuss what happened by asking questions, such as:
What were you feeling?
What happened before you became upset?
What could help next time?
It can help foster carers to pause before reacting to challenging behaviours.
Ask: ‘What might this child be communicating?’.
They may be hungry, tired, embarrassed, frightened or triggered by something from their past.
Writing detailed daily recordings and keeping a record of behavioural patterns can help carers and professionals identify what is happening and implement effective ways of supporting the child.
Relationships Matter
Maintaining a trusting relationship with a consistent adult is incredibly important for a child who has experienced trauma. You don’t need to have the perfect response every time, but a willingness to repair, reconnect and try again.
Establishing a secure home environment and predictable responses and routines can help children and young people feel safe.
At Quality Fostering we provide carers with training on trauma informed approaches to enable them to respond to challenging behaviours effectively and establish supportive and safe relationships with the children in their care.
If you are concerned about a child’s behaviour, emotional wellbeing or development, speak with your Supervising Social Worker and the child’s social worker. Working together with professionals and following the child’s care plan will help us all to provide the best possible care.
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