At Lighthouse Fostering, we believe that high-quality training is the foundation of successful foster care. Caring for children and young people who have experienced trauma requires more than just a warm heart; it requires specific skills, deep understanding, and a therapeutic approach.
We are incredibly excited to shine a spotlight on one of our most advanced and valuable training sessions: "Understanding Mentalisation & The AMBIT Model." Led by Bridget Hamlet, our dedicated in-house therapist, this session is designed to equip our foster carers in Kent and East Sussex with powerful psychological tools to navigate complex behaviours and build stronger connections.
For many of us, the terms "Mentalisation" and "AMBIT" might sound a bit academic. However, the concepts behind them are deeply human and essential for anyone looking after a young person. Let’s explore what these frameworks are and why they are such a crucial part of our foster carer training.
What is Mentalisation?
In simple terms, mentalisation is the ability to "hold mind in mind." It is the capacity to understand our own behaviour and the behaviour of others in terms of mental states—thoughts, feelings, wishes, and intentions.
Most of us do this automatically every day. If a friend snaps at us, we might think, "They are probably just tired or stressed about work," rather than assuming they hate us. That is mentalising. We are looking behind the outward action to find the internal reason.
Why is Mentalisation Important in Fostering?
For children who have experienced trauma or neglect, the ability to mentalise can be fragile. They may struggle to understand why people do what they do, often misinterpreting a neutral face as angry or a helpful suggestion as criticism.
Conversely, fostering can be incredibly stressful. When a child is displaying challenging behaviour, our own ability to mentalise can "go offline." We might stop seeing the frightened child underneath the anger and only see the defiance.
Bridget’s training helps carers regain and maintain this perspective. By strengthening their mentalising skills, foster carers can:
- Pause and reflect: Instead of reacting instantly to a behaviour, they can step back and wonder, "What is this child feeling right now?"
- Reduce misunderstandings: It helps clarify that a child’s rejection might actually be a defence mechanism against fear of abandonment.
- Regulate emotions: When we understand the intent behind a behaviour, it becomes easier to stay calm and provide the co-regulation the child needs.
Introducing the AMBIT Model
AMBIT stands for Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment. Developed by the Anna Freud Centre, it is a framework designed specifically for teams working with young people who have complex needs and who may not engage with traditional services.
While it sounds technical, the AMBIT model is incredibly practical. It acknowledges that working with traumatised young people is often chaotic and stressful. It provides a map for how to stay helpful and therapeutic even when things get tough.
In our Lighthouse Fostering training, we focus on how this model applies to the foster home. It encourages carers to:
- Stay Adaptive: Recognising that what works today might not work tomorrow, and being flexible in our approach.
- Integrate Support: Understanding that the foster carer is part of a wider team. The AMBIT model promotes "mentalising the network"—ensuring that social workers, teachers, therapists, and carers are all understanding the child in the same way.
Building Empathy Through Knowledge
The core goal of combining Mentalisation and the AMBIT model is to foster empathy. When we can accurately imagine what is going on inside a young person’s mind, our relationship with them changes. We move from trying to "manage" behaviour to trying to "connect" with the person.
This is the essence of therapeutic fostering. It shifts the narrative from "What is wrong with this child?" to "What has happened to this child, and how is it affecting them right now?"
By attending this training, our carers learn to:
- De-escalate conflict: By validating the child's feelings ("I can see you are furious because you feel this is unfair") rather than just correcting the behaviour.
- Build trust: When a child feels that their internal world is understood, they feel safer. Safety is the bedrock of attachment.
- Look after themselves: The training also focuses on the carer's own mental states, emphasising that you cannot pour from an empty cup.
Our Commitment to Exceptional Training
At Lighthouse Fostering, we don't just ask our carers to look after children; we give them the high-level professional tools to do it well.
Having an in-house therapist like Bridget Hamlet facilitate this training is a huge benefit. She understands the specific context of our fostering families in Kent and East Sussex. She knows the children, she knows the challenges, and she can tailor these complex psychological theories into practical, everyday advice that makes sense at the breakfast table or during the school run.
We are proud to offer this level of foster carer training. We believe that by investing in the skills of our carers, we are directly investing in the healing and happiness of the children in our care.
Join Us to Learn More
"Understanding Mentalisation & The AMBIT Model" is more than just a training session; it is an invitation to see the world through a different lens. It is an opportunity to deepen your practice and enhance your relationship with the young people you care for.
We encourage all our foster carers to take advantage of this fantastic learning opportunity. Whether you are new to fostering or have years of experience, these frameworks offer fresh insights that can transform your approach to care.
If you are not yet a carer but are interested in joining an agency that prioritises professional development and therapeutic support, we would love to hear from you.