MTFCE Library

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Key Facts

Launch of DCSF pilot scheme in England: 2003

National Team bases: Maudsley Hospital, London; Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester

Total number of placements (April 2004 - March 2008): 150

Number of sites running MTFC-A (at June 2008): 13

Number of sites setting up MTFC-P (at June 2008): 5

Number of operational MTFC-P sites (at June 2008): 1

Number of sites setting up MTFC-C (at June 2008): 8

General Enquiries

Call +44 (0)20 3228 3264 or
email Ineke.Burke@slam.nhs.uk

General Information

What is MTFCE?

MTFCE stands for Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care in England. It is a pilot project funded by the Department for Children School and Families (DCSF) since 2002.

The project is managed overall by a National Implementation Team and receives funding from the DCSF. The National Team is staffed by personnel from the Institute of Psychiatry and two NHS Hospital Trusts – Central Manchester and Manchester University Children's Trust (CMMC) and South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM). The National Team consults regularly with the developers of the approach at the Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC).

The DCSF has awarded start up grants to local authorities who have successfully tendered for grants to set up teams to work with children and young people who have experienced several placement disruptions and who have high levels of need. MTFCE follows an evidence-based model developed by researchers at Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC) in the United States over the course of 30 years and which has been shown to work in the US for children with a variety of difficulties. The local teams are supported by the National Implementation Team.

How Does MTFCE Work?

MTFCE works by having highly trained foster carers who are supported by a specially trained clinical team. Together they deliver individualised treatment programmes to children and young people.

Each foster family works with one child at a time for between six and twelve months. Foster carers and clinical staff are trained in behaviour management systems for the age group with which they will work. These systems involve giving lots of encouragement and celebrating children and young people’s achievements. Children and young people learn and practise new skills in a supportive environment.

When the children and young people move on to a permanent placement, the team helps their permanent carers to continue this work.

MTFCE Evaluation

The MTFC-Adolescents pilot project is being evaluated independently by the Universities of Manchester and York who are conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT). The study is comparing MTFCE with other placements for children and young people (the Care Placements Evaluation). This work is expected to be completed in 2010.

MTFC in Europe

A number of other European countries, including Sweden and the Netherlands, are similarly developing MTFC programmes for adolescents and for the younger 3-6 age group; however the English programme is the largest programme outside the USA and the only national initiative in Europe.