The Secure Base Model — A Therapeutic Approach to Children's Well-being
Supporting Children's Mental Health With The Secure Base Model
Children's Mental Health Week is a great reminder of the importance of creating secure, nurturing environments for children to thrive. For children who have experienced trauma, loss, or instability, their emotional well-being might be particularly fragile. At Family Care Group, we are committed to providing therapeutic care that fosters resilience, emotional security, and a sense of belonging. One of the key approaches we use across our services is the Secure Base Model, a framework that helps children develop trust and stability in their relationships.
What is Therapeutic Care?
Many organisations supporting young people claim to provide therapeutic care, but what does that truly mean? At Family Care Group, therapeutic care is more than just good intentions-it is a structured, research-backed approach to parenting and caregiving. This means:
- Providing consistent, informed caregiving strategies
- Understanding and addressing the unique needs of each child
- Using evidence-based interventions to promote emotional and psychological well-being
- Prioritising children's long-term outcomes through secure relationships and structured support.
Children who have suffered trauma or adverse childhood experiences require more than just 'good enough' parenting. They need caregivers who are equipped to help them heal, grow, and build positive attachments.
The Secure Base Model: A Therapeutic Approach
At Family Care Group, we embed The Secure Base Model into all aspects of our fostering, residential, and education services. This model was developed by Professor Gillian Schofield and Dr. Mary Beek at the University of East Anglia and is designed to help children develop resilience and security in their relationships.
A secure base is fundamental to any caregiving environment - whether in a birth family, foster home, residential care, or school setting. Children need to feel safe and supported by the adults who care for them. Without this foundation, they may struggle with trust, emotional regulation, and social relationships.
How the Secure Base Model Works
The Secure Base Model is rooted in attachment theory and has been adapted to include 'family membership' for children separated from their birth families. It consists of five key dimensions of caregiving, each contributing to a child's development:
- Availability - Being emotionally and physically present for a child, reassuring them that they have someone to rely on.
- Sensitivity - Recognising and responding appropriately to a child's needs and emotions.
- Acceptance - Providing a non-judgmental space where children feel valued and understood.
- Co-operation - Encouraging children to feel involved and capable, fostering a sense of agency.
- Family Membership - Helping children feel like they belong to a stable and supportive family or community.
By combining these elements, caregivers create a secure foundation that allows children to explore, learn, and form healthy relationships while knowing they have a safe place to return to when needed.
Why Secure Base Matters for Children's Mental Health
Children's Mental Health Week is all about recognising and supporting the emotional well-being of young people. Many children in care have faced significant emotional and psychological challenges, and their mental health can be deeply affected by past experiences. The Secure Base Model directly addresses these challenges by:
- Reducing Anxiety: A predictable and safe environment helps children feel less fearful and more in control.
- Building Trust: Children learn to rely on caregivers who are consistently there for them.
- Encouraging Emotional Expression: When children feel accepted, they are more likely to open up about their thoughts and feelings.
- Promoting Self-Worth: Feeling valued and included fosters confidence and resilience.
By embedding this model in the work we do at Family Care, we ensure that every child in our care has the support they need to develop strong emotional well-being.
How Family Care Group Uses the Secure Base Model
We integrate the Secure Base Model into every aspect of our work, ensuring that foster carers, residential staff, and educators are trained in therapeutic caregiving. This includes:
- Recruitment & Training: New foster carers learn about Secure Base in their Skills to Foster training.
- Ongoing Support: We provide regular training and supervision to help carers and staff use the model effectively.
- Professional Partnerships: We work closely with Professor Gillian Schofield and Dr. Mary Beek to ensure we apply Secure Base in the best possible way.
At Family Care Group, we don't expect new foster carers to be experts in the Secure Base Model from day one - we guide and support you every step of the way.
Our in-house therapists train all our foster carers and staff to work within the Secure Base framework, so you'll be comfortable with it in no time at all. If you're applying to become a foster carer you will learn about the model in your Skills to Foster training, and we hold several training events on Secure Base every year.
We have also established a professional relationship with Professor Gillian Schofield who led the project that developed Secure Base.
Gillian attended our annual roadshow in 2016 and led a conference training event the following year to the benefit of all our foster carers and staff.
We have since remained in contact with both Gillian Schofield and Mary Beek to share ideas and progress. This support has helped us make sure we use The Secure Base Model in the right way.
For more information on the Secure Base Model, visit the University of East Anglia's research page.
How You Can Make a Difference
If fostering has been on your mind, why not take the first step today? The first step on the foster carer journey is to make an enquiry.
You can pick up the phone and give us a call, there is no obligation for anything more than a chat. Call us on 0800 5 677677 and we will be happy to help you. Or if you prefer, you can enquire online and we will get in touch: https://family-care.co.uk/enquire-to-foster/
We understand that every enquiry is unique, and we're here to support and guide you every step of the way.
Make a Difference in 2025
As we focus on children's mental health this week, consider the impact you could have by opening your home and heart to a child in need. Fostering isn't just about providing a roof over their heads - it's about offering stability, care, and the chance for a brighter future.
This year, give back and transform lives-starting with fostering.
For more information, visit our FAQs page, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or give us a call today. Let's make 2025 a year to remember!
If you want to give something back and would like to discuss a career in fostering, please get in touch today.
Read more about our application process here.
Healing Pasts | Building Futures
Since 1988
0800 5 677 677
