WHY US?
Psychology Service
As an agency which prides itself on ‘Putting Children’s Futures First,’ we are always seeking ways to improve and strengthen the support package we provide to our foster cares in order to meet the needs of the children and young people in their care.
We pride ourselves on ‘putting children’s futures first’ at Team Fostering
We’ve therefore engaged the support of Doctor Berit Richie at Reflective Minds Limited in Yorkshire and the East Midlands and Dr Gemma Gate at Gate Psychological Services LTD in the North East to help us deliver therapeutic and psychological support to our families – both online and in-person.
Yorkshire and East Midlands
We are particularly excited about our collaboration with Doctor Berit Ritchie, our assigned Clinical Psychologist. Doctor Ritchie brings extensive experience in our sector and will be conducting the Psychology workshops and Clinical Psychology consultations.
Here’s a little bit about her:
I am a Consultant Clinical psychologist and I worked for the NHS for 23 years before I more recently moved into full time independent practice. Since the beginning of my career, I have predominantly worked in complex services addressing presentations of high risk, high harm and high vulnerability spanning all ages, with periods working into more specialist children’s services, providing edge of care interventions (leading a Multi Systemic Therapy service), developing and leading clinical teams in residential schools and homes, and working into a child and adolescent inpatient facility.
My last job for the NHS was as Clinical Lead for a regional forensic CAMHS and three regional adult community forensic services. This allowed me experience of working with children and adults with the highest of complexities. Within the last 15 years of my career, I have provided both clinical and legal services alongside my NHS positions, by offering independent therapy to children and adults, providing specialist assessments and interventions through Adoption Support, collaborating with NHS commissioners, Youth Justice Services and Social Services to provide new and innovative ways of responding to complex case presentations and organisational stress.
I regularly present at conferences, deliver training and consultation on a variety of topics and I am up to date with the psychological literature in my field. I have published a couple of book chapters, and I am also involved with a variety of research projects in my quest to contribute towards the evidence base of what works for complex populations. I have a particular interest in trauma, and I am trained in both systemic trauma informed approaches as well as specific trauma interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR).
Reflective Minds Limited offers a comprehensive range of services, and you can find out more about their services on their website here: https://reflectiveminds.org/
North East
I’m Dr Gemma Gate, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Gate Psychological Services LTD.
I am really excited to be working with Team Fostering and developing the Psychological Support available to carers and staff.
By way of introduction, I thought it would be helpful to share some information about myself, my professional experience and what I hope to bring to Team Fostering.
Outside of work, I’m a mother to two young children, a 23-year-old horse and a rather large labradoodle! A proud lover of Tetley tea and chocolate digestives.
I have worked within Mental Health Services for 15 years, specialising in Child & Adolescent Mental Health since 2015. Within the NHS, I worked in Community CAMHS and was clinical lead for a specialist LAC CAMHS service. I left the NHS in 2019 and have continued to provide psychological services for Looked After and Adopted Children. I draw upon a range of psychological models but work predominantly in an attachment and trauma focused approach.
Relationships, connection and a sense of belonging are key to our existence and happiness. Early trauma and adversity can create such huge barriers for children, at no fault of their own, and often the pain and trauma continues beyond those early experiences.
I am passionate about helping and supporting the adults caring for children. To help them see the hurt and pain underneath, to navigate the challenging and turbulent times. To support carers in their persistence, as they repeatedly reach out and connect with children. Because all children matter, and they deserve to feel worthy and loved.