Portrait of young teenage boy at the park
Portrait of young teenage boy at the park

Relationships, Behaviour & Risk Management

Promoting Positive Relationships 

Strong, healthy relationships are essential to improving a child’s overall wellbeing. We recognise that many of the children who come to stay with us at Budwood may have faced disruption and trauma in their lives which can impact their ability to form and maintain these necessary bonds. Our staff work closely with a qualified therapist to help children develop the skills they need to form rewarding relationships.

Our staff are trained to provide tailored care for young people with a variety of experiences, including:  

  • Social and emotional difficulties
  • Attachment Disorder 
  • Criminal exploitation 
  • Sexual exploitation 
  • Substance misuse 
  • Neurodivergent children

Spending time with friends and family 

Keeping in contact with friends is so important, and spending time with family members can be hugely beneficial for some children in the care system. We promote contact between children, their friends and their families wherever appropriate, with support such as: 

  • Team support. We work closely with children’s social workers and local authority professionals to ensure that time spent with family can be positive and rewarding.  
  • Family therapy. We are able to provide direct therapy to a child’s birth family to enable positive contact, build healthy relationships, and work towards reunification. 
  • Supervised contact. Our staff are available to supervise contact sessions where appropriate. 
  • Distanced contact. Following a risk assessment, children we be able to use a private telephone line to keep in touch with their loved ones and friends. 

The Budwood family 

In our residential homes we promote a family-style environment where young people are encouraged to socialize and have fun together. There are plenty of activities both inside and outside of the home which children can get involved with, giving them great opportunities to develop their friendships with each other and our staff.  

Our staff are great role models who are fully trained to support children who have experienced trauma in learning to manage their emotions and develop healthy relationships. Our staff role model good behaviour and use therapeutic parenting techniques, building trust with children and making Budwood a place of safety and security where children can rely on the support of responsible, caring adults.  

Promoting Positive Behaviour 

At Budwood we understand that behaviours which may be considered challenging are often a way of communicating an unmet need. We foster a culture of acceptance, recognising that many of the children who we welcome into our homes have experienced trauma. Our trauma-informed approach  aims to fully recognise the impact which adverse childhood experiences can have on a young person’s development, relationships, and behaviours.   

Our caring and compassionate staff team use our research-informed C.A.T.C.H®  Model to inform their daily practice, encouraging children to develop their emotional and social skills by: 

  • Being a great role model
  • Using therapeutic parenting techniques 
  • Rewarding good behaviour 
  • Being patient and building trust 
  • Teaching empathy for others  
  • Encouraging children to have a positive self-image  
  • Treating every day as a positive fresh start 
  • Providing children with access to 1-1 sessions with a licensed therapist  
Boy sat on the sofa

Managing Challenging Behaviour 

We approach challenging behaviours with patience, empathy and consistency, always centring our understanding that these behaviours are a response to circumstances in the child’s young life which they cannot control. Challenging behaviours can be a reaction to any kind of disruption, including grief, separation or abuse. In understanding the causes behind these behaviours, we understand the need to be compassionate in our responses to them.  

At Budwood we use trauma-informed PRICE intervention techniques in order to deescalate challenging situations and manage high risk behaviours. All of our staff receive thorough PRICE training and regular refresher courses in order to ensure that they are providing the highest standard of care. 

We are committed to restraint reduction, and PRICE training equips staff with the skills and knowledge they need to avoid the use of restraint. Restraint is only used at Budwood in rare circumstances where there is an immediate, serious risk of a child hurting themselves or others. Where required, we can also provide higher staffing ratios to ensure that a child’s needs are met.  

Risk Management 

Safeguarding our young people is at the heart of everything we do here at Budwood. Before a child comes to stay at one of our residential homes we will conduct a thorough risk assessment to ensure that they are safe and supported in every aspect of their lives.  

We conduct regular risk assessments to ensure that all of the children in our care are kept safe from harm. We regularly review any risks posed and immediately notify a child’s placing authority if we identify any significant events or changes, and keep written records detailing any incidents.  

In the event of a high risk situation arising, we will request an urgent meeting with the professionals involved in the young person’s care to quickly and thoroughly resolve any issues.