The Therapeutic Led Care Programme at Blue Sky Fostering: Transforming Lives

What is Therapeutic Led Care?

TLC was developed to support children and young people who have experienced complex trauma, providing them with an environment where they can thrive. "We recognised that there were children and young people who needed more than a standard foster placement, needed an enhanced level of support," explains Ashleigh, a TLC Practice Manager, who has been working in TLC since its inception 13 years ago. "TLC was the solution for lots of things, really."

This approach ensures that young people receive the right care within a family setting rather than being placed in residential homes where they might not get the tailored attention they require. "We wanted better outcomes for young people, for them not to get lost in the system," she adds. "What we really want is for those young people to be supported within a family, but to have that extra layer of therapeutic impact and support."

"Our foster carers receive all the support that mainstream carers do, but with additional ‘bolt-on’ support"

How TLC is Different

Unlike mainstream foster placements, TLC placements provide additional wraparound support to both the young person and the foster carer. "Our foster carers receive all the support that mainstream carers do, but with additional ‘bolt-on’ support," says Elizabeth, also working as a TLC Practice Manager. This includes weekly or bi-weekly therapeutic guidance from a Clinical Practitioners who help support foster carers to respond therapeutically to children's needs and behaviours.

The focus is on building safe, secure attachments, a process that can be challenging for children who have experienced trauma. "It’s about working towards a secure attachment with the foster carer, recognizing that some of our children find it really difficult to build those relationships," explains Elizabeth.

Additionally, young people are assigned Individual Workers who provide tailored support on a weekly or fortnightly basis. "Everybody has somebody," she continues. "It creates a robust package of support that meets the unique needs of each foster carer and young person."

The Right People for the Role

One of the key strengths of TLC is its emphasis on finding the right foster carers. “Anybody can have the potential to be a TLC carer,” adds Ashleigh. “You don’t have to have a background in therapy or a related profession—we’re looking for a type of person.”

“You don’t have to have a background in therapy or a related profession—we’re looking for a type of person.”

This includes individuals who are reflective, open to working collaboratively, and willing to take measured risks. “And a sense of humour goes such a long way,” says Ashleigh. “What really matters is that our foster carers can see beyond behaviours, and focus on what these children and young people need.”

The Power of Hope

At its heart, TLC is about providing hope. “I am so passionate about TLC because of the hope that it creates,” says Elizabeth. “I want every young person to leave us knowing they are good at something, that they have value, and that their future is theirs to shape.”

Through TLC, young people who once felt invisible or misunderstood are given the chance to redefine their futures. “Many of our children come to us thinking they are failures,” says Ashleigh. “By the time they leave, they can say, ‘I am really good at this,’ and they say it with pride. That’s what makes all the difference.”

“By the time they leave, they can say, ‘I am really good at this,’ and they say it with pride. That’s what makes all the difference.”

Looking to the Future

The success of TLC has led to increasing demand from local authorities, a testament to its impact. “When we first started, we had no history, no evidence, no statistics,” Ashleigh recalls. “Now, local authorities call us asking for TLC placements. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.”

The team at Blue Sky Fostering is eager to expand the programme to reach even more children who need this level of care. “There are more young people out there that we can support,” says Elizabeth. “We just need to continue building the infrastructure to make that happen.”

As the programme grows, its core mission remains unchanged: to provide young people with the chance to heal, develop meaningful relationships, and embrace the future with confidence. As Elizabeth puts it, “If all of our children leave believing in themselves, that’s all we want.”