Therapeutic Approach

Creating Healing Through Caring, Supportive Settings.

We use a trauma-informed approach and the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy), so young individuals feel safe, build trusting relationships and re-engage with learning and life.

Our PACE Therapeutic Model enables our staff to work in a way that is grounded in psychological understanding and sensitive to the impact of trauma, shaping how we provide care, support, and education.

PACE combines the latest evidence and proven approaches to working with children and young people who may have lived through significant adversity and trauma.

Our PACE Therapeutic Model

What is PACE

Our PACE Therapeutic Model focuses on fostering connection rather than compliance, using a non-judgmental, warm, and engaging attitude.

Playfulness: Creates a light, fun, and open atmosphere to reduce tension and build connection.
Acceptance: Unconditionally accepts the child’s internal feelings, thoughts, and emotions without judgment, even if behavior is unacceptable.
Curiosity: Actively seeks to understand the "why" behind a child's behavior, helping them explore their inner world without shame.
Empathy: Actively shares in the child’s emotional state, showing you understand their distress and are there to support them.

Connection Over Control: Rather than focusing on changing behaviour through punishment, PACE helps children feel safe and understood, which in turn reduces negative behaviours.

Reduces Shame: By accepting, rather than judging, it helps children feel secure, reducing feelings of worthlessness.

Versatile Application: While designed for therapeutic parenting and foster care, it is used by educators, social workers, and parents to support emotional regulation and resilience.

What is meant by PACE

Support

We see every young person as an individual. By working together across disciplines, we ensure they receive tailored care, learning opportunities, and support that help them to succeed. Our teams focus on truly understanding their specific circumstances so each young person has the best chance to grow and flourish.

Healing

We understand that many of the young people we care for and educate have faced difficult, sometimes traumatic experiences. We recognise how complex these experiences can be and the wide-ranging effects they may have. With patience, understanding, and a DDP-informed approach rooted in PACE.

Nurture

Within our homes, we create nurturing spaces where young people can explore their strengths and build trusting relationships. Our colleagues prioritise warm, compassionate interactions, offering consistency, comfort so every young person knows they matter and can rely on us. .

Environments

Across all our services, we are committed to providing safe, and inclusive environments where young people feel they belong. We pay close attention to how spaces are arranged and experienced, taking into account sensory needs and the ways trauma can affect sensory processing.

Playful Connection, Acceptance, Curious Reflection & Empathic Care

Unconditional acceptance sits at the centre of a child’s sense of security. It means welcoming and acknowledging their inner experiences without judgement. Their thoughts and feelings simply exist; they are not inherently right or wrong. Accepting a child’s intentions or emotions does not mean agreeing with behaviour that may be unsafe or harmful to themselves or others.