What is Nurturing Change?

Children who are in foster care can sometimes be withdrawn, get easily upset or worried, or find it difficult when interacting with others. Currently there is a lack of research into the best forms of support or therapy for these children. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new program designed to specifically address these areas of concern, called Video-feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline – Foster Care (VIPP-FC). VIPP-FC aims to help carers learn about and understand the signals and behaviour of the children that can be quite challenging and difficult – so that the carers are better equipped to respond, and to help the child feel less worried and that they can trust and rely on their carer.

The study was led by Professor Pasco Fearon from University College London (UCL) and the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF), and ran in partnership with other universities (Kings College London, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge), six NHS Trusts and nine partner local authorities commissioning services for looked after children. Sites included urban (Greater London, Peterborough) and rural/semirural (Yorkshire/Hertfordshire) areas.

Study Aims

To adapt the intervention to children in foster care in the UK (VIPP-FC).
To conduct a series of case studies (Case Series) to road-test the study procedures and the adapted intervention, as well as to conduct a scoping study.
To carry out the RCT to determine the feasibility of a future large-scale trial, as well as interviews to the recipients of VIPP-FC to evaluate the acceptability of the intervention.

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