The Secure Base model is drawn from attachment theory and adapted to include an additional element, ‘family membership’, for children who are separated from their birth families. The model proposes five dimensions of caregiving Availability, Sensitivity, Acceptance, Co-operation and Family Membership, each of which is associated with a corresponding developmental benefit for the child.
Availability, Sensitivity, Acceptance, Co-operation and Family Membership
The dimensions overlap and combine with each other to create a secure base, as represented above. For example, a caregiver who is playing with a child in a focused, child-led way may be doing so with sensitivity and acceptance as well as demonstrating availability and promoting co-operation.
It was recommended in the Government White Paper, Care Matters (2007) as a basis for training foster carers and was subsequently incorporated into the Skills to Foster preparation programme, produced by the Fostering Network (2009, 2014).