ACTION
An innovative methodology is helping to transform the way in which trauma-informed support is being delivered in children's residential care.
The Healing Together programme, developed by social enterprise Innovating Minds, aims to better equip frontline practitioners to implement trauma-informed approaches effectively.
It is, in part, a response to a sector-wide concern that residential care staff often struggle to deliver trauma-informed care despite recognising its importance when supporting children and young people affected by abuse and neglect.
The programme, which is being rolled out nationwide, allows practitioners to access trauma-informed training and then a series of six programmes that can be delivered directly to children aged five and over.
The initiative empowers children's home staff to address challenges such as angry feelings and anxiety which can help improve behaviour, emotional wellbeing, engagement in relationships and access to education.
Innovative Minds says by reducing behavioural incidents and preventing placement breakdowns, the programme ensures “real-world impact” and long-term benefits for children and young people.
Dr Asha Patel, a clinical psychologist that developed Healing Together with trauma-informed specialist Jane Evans, says it has been designed to ensure that children benefit from “consistent, empathetic support” that is integrated into their daily environments.
“Trauma-informed care is not just about understanding the effects of trauma – it's about embedding empathy, collaboration and reparative relationships into every interaction,” she explains.
“By equipping practitioners with these skills, we create a sustainable, scalable system that provides children with the stability and environment they need to heal.”
Residential care provider Salutem Care and Education has trained more than 65 of its practitioners since it integrated the Healing Together programme into its services in August 2023. This includes its division director, senior managers and frontline support staff.
Since September 2023, 40 children across its children's homes have received support from Healing Together interventions.
As part of the programme, monthly group coaching sessions are offered to frontline practitioners where they can receive peer support and expert guidance from trauma-informed experts.
These sessions support practitioners to reflect on their delivery of the programme, overcome any challenges and support adherence to the model, says the care home provider.
Internally, the team uses a group chat to share tips on how to deliver the sessions, the impact they have seen and also to offer support to each other to implement trauma-informed care within their homes, it adds.
Children in foster or residential care that have experienced trauma often present with complex behavioural, emotional and developmental challenges that require more than conventional therapeutic interventions, says Karen Jackson, divisional director for children and young people at Salutem Care and Education.
“The trauma many of the children we support have endured requires an approach that goes beyond traditional therapy,” she says.
“The Healing Together programme has provided our staff with the tools and knowledge to create environments where children feel safe, supported and able to process their experiences.”
Frontline support workers and managers deliver the programme during key worker sessions or flexibly during activities such as cooking.
Programme content is housed on an online portal which includes video animations and worksheets designed to support children with special educational needs.
Tools such as grounding exercises, relatable stories and activities tailored to children's individual needs are also used as part of the model.
The care provider says these strategies help children to feel calm and regulated, laying the foundations for healthier relationships and improved long-term outcomes.
By training practitioners who are already part of children's lives, the programme ensures that trauma-informed becomes an enduring component of their environment, it adds.
Jackson says: “The journey to becoming a fully trauma-informed organisation is a long-term commitment.
“Thanks to the Healing Together programme, we're already seeing profound changes – not just in the children we support, but also in our staff and our organisational ethos.”
IMPACT
Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University published an independent evaluation of the Healing Together programme last year on behalf of Innovating Minds and Salutem Care and Education.
It says that by equipping practitioners with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise the impact of trauma and offer informed support, the programme aims to create a “broader, more integrated system of care”.
“As a community-based model, it aims to ensure that children are surrounded by adults who are capable of responding to their needs in a trauma-informed manner, whether in schools, residential homes, or other settings,” it states.
“It also addresses the issue of scalability, as it enables a wider network of practitioners to deliver support without relying exclusively on specialised mental health professionals.”
It highlights how the programme acknowledges the importance of reparative relationships in the healing process and for children and young people who have experienced trauma, building trust with adults can be difficult.
“By training individuals who are already part of the child's daily life, the programme helps to foster these critical relationships in a natural, supportive environment. This not only aims to enhance the effectiveness of the support provided but also makes it more sustainable in the long term,” the report states.
Participants reported that children and young people who had taken part in Healing Together sessions had an increased ability to understand and identify their emotions.
One manager said this was a factor in reducing the number of physical incidents for one child.
“One of our young boys…struggles with anger and he'll break all of his property. He was able to sit with staff and identify where he feels that anger in his body and what that looks and feels like for him,” he explains.
Overall, the evaluation found the Healing Together programme has “noticeably transformed” Salutem Care and Education, impacting individual practice, organisational culture and systemic processes.
It says the adoption of trauma-informed approaches has fostered a “more compassionate and effective model of care”.
It concludes: “Ultimately, the journey toward a fully trauma-informed organisation is a long-term endeavour that requires commitment, investment and a shared vision for improved outcomes for children and young people. However, the evaluation findings suggest that the roll out of the programme so far has had a positive impact.”
