We recognise that young people who are in the care system have experienced significant trauma in their early lives. This could be sustained neglect, ongoing abuse, the death of a parent or violence within the home, the list goes on.

We access support services for mental health problems that have been identified and we may reach out to individuals or therapies to help with attachment difficulties, recover from bereavement, trauma and loss, and turn around problem behaviours in to positive outcomes.

From the point of referral, we aim to identify and seek the following characteristics:

• Early intervention
• Structured and intensive
• Addressing the multiple contexts for problem behaviour (i.e. home, school, and community)
• Provided in a range of different ways across social care, health and education

We work with a number of independent professionals that support therapeutic intervention that go on to build trusted relationships with young people and staff alike and this enables them a sense of feeling cared for.

EachOne Support work within a network of skilled professionals that care and provide psychologically, safe environments, containing therapeutic care to help young people make sense of the trauma they have experienced, providing programmes such as holistic therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy, education and vocational qualifications, and community-based opportunities like college and work placements to prepare young people for the future.

Community-based therapies and treatments are more flexible and reduce the disruption to the lives of the young people, although in some cases both community-based treatment and inpatient care can be effective interventions for young people with mental health difficulties.

We strive to encourage strong, positive relationships to the wellbeing of care experienced young people and stability of mental health.

We support family contact, however this would be agreed and determined by the Social Worker/Personal Advisers as ‘family’ contact can sometimes be detrimental to young people’s emotional wellbeing and this may have a negative impact around their mental health if routine or if there are ‘unrepaired’ relationships.

We believe that one of the most important influences on Young Peoples emotional wellbeing is the extent to which they feel they were listened to by the adults and peers around them. We teach young people that Communicational Skills are important, however the need for them to understand communication is not just verbal, and they the Young People can express themselves through their behaviours and or writing.

We understand, recognise and support young people in the care system which are likely to be more resilient to adverse circumstances if they have:

• Supportive relationships with adults, siblings, and friends
• A committed adult other than a parent who takes a strong interest in them as a long-term mentor and role model
• The capacity to develop and reflect on a coherent story about what has happened and is happening to them
• Positive experiences in college and or training setting
• A capacity to think ahead and plan their lives