Fostering case study: Jason

Could you be a long term foster family?

We are seeking fostercare for a boy who needs to move from his therapeutic reparenting programme (TRP)carers. Jason is 12 years old, white British of traveller decent, and of medium build. Jason has dark brown hair, hazel-brown eyes and a healthy complexion. Slightly shortsighted -
he wears glasses for reading. He is physically fit and healthy. Jason’s history is one of neglect, parental alcohol abuse, conflict and violence. He also sustained some harm.

Currently placed with in the TRP, Jason has lived with his carers for 4 years. He is beginning to feel more able to express his emotions and is able to reflect about some of his experiences. At home his behaviour is very good; he is polite and very helpful. He can be quite clingy to his foster mother, but also has good relationships with his foster father and other children. He can show affection appropriately and generally engages well with all foster family members. Like many children who have attachment problems, he can sometimes try to control situations and this can cause difficulties in his maintaining peer relationships.

An academically bright child, he is achieving in his secondary school. He is able to work well in class situations, but does occasionally struggle to focus his attention on task. He is in the ‘Gifted and Talented Group’ for English and demonstrates an aptitude for art, construction and science related subjects. He attends after-school clubs for science and technology. However he does
not like school, mainly because of his difficulty in making friends. Jason continues to remain more confident with 1:1 activities and small group situations although his social skills are improving. During the school holidays, he attends play schemes and is able to engage reasonably well. It is anticipated that his friendships will develop alongside his emotional development.

Model-making and drawing (particularly technical drawing) are 2 of his favourite pastimes. Jason is very interested in aeroplanes, cars, trains and mechanical engineering. Other interests include watching cartoons such as The Simpsons, Japanese Anime cartoons and factual
documentaries. Jason particularly likes the National Geographic Channel and has said one of his favourite programmes is Air Crash Investigators. He enjoys playing on his computer and Nintendo DS. Jason likes swimming, trampolining and follows Chelsea FC.

Those involved in his care will need to be sensitive and responsive to his level of need. Foster carers should be aware of the needs of children with attachment issues. Therapeutic work is likely to involve forming and maintaining positive and trusting relationships to promote his trust and provide a forum to speak about his experience. Life story work has recently begun. It will be important to provide support to him and his carers as he begins to give accounts of his life and develop his emotional vocabulary. He will need more of the sensitive and containing care that he has already received, and time to reflect and be heard and understood.

Jason would benefit from a firm, yet nurturing female carer and also a strong male care with interests similar to his own. Jason gets on well with female foster siblings, but is occasionally intolerant of male peers, so thought would need to be given to the age and numbers of other
children within the family. There is no parental contact, but he has contact with his brother and sister, who have been adopted.

If you would like to know more about Jason, please contact the Initial Enquiries Team on 0845 330 2968.

Please view our other case studies about fostering experiences.