Hello all and welcome
In this space, I reflect on the challenges and rewards of leading a growing multi-facetted charity dedicated to transforming the lives of people, troubled and traumatised as children.
Each day presents a unique opportunity to engage with our mission, and I am continually energised and inspired by the resilience of the children, families and people we serve, the professionals and colleagues I meet and the dedication of our staff. It is not always glossy or shiny and things don’t always go as well as I’d hope, – it requires me to dig deep, and work hard with the amazing charity leadership group, – and battle with the imposter syndrome voice which lives powerfully on my shoulder as we forage, learn and explore where we can make a difference.
In this sense the blog is something of my personal journey at The Mulberry Bush, of the amazing people I meet and work with and some of the stories that the work brings to mind.
As a ‘Learning Organisation’, we are on a journey of transformation, innovation, and change. A journey that involves our stewardship of the growth of the Mulberry Bush charity from being simply the school, an amazing therapeutic community and special school for some of the most challenging and vulnerable children in society, to a more complex charitable organisation with a range of services with an ever-widening scope, range, reach and – ambition to grow more. It is both exciting and at times painful.
Navigating Leadership in a Therapeutic Environment
As I lead and manage the growth of The Mulberry Bush, I often find myself balancing the internal dynamics of our therapeutic community – the school, and how this translates to the wider charities growing services, all with the external demands of rapidly changing social care, education, health and criminal justice landscapes. – Balancing the importance of the ‘Business of the treatment with the treatment of the business’.
The Mulberry Bush Range of Services
At the heart of the charity, we are developing The Mulberry Bush Learning and Research Centre. This is the knowledge hub of the charity, supporting us to take the golden threads of our learning, heritage, and legacy, through all our services to deliver greater social impact, in this country and abroad, helping others work more effectively and therapeutically with challenge and vulnerability.
The Mulberry Bush School is the foundation of the charity, an acclaimed and accredited therapeutic community and residential special school founded in 1948. This school, which provides step down 38 & 52 week, therapeutic care, treatment and education for children aged 5-13 who have experienced severe social, emotional and mental health challenges, and their families, remains the cornerstone of our organization.
From this strong foundation, we’ve expanded our reach and impact. Today, The Mulberry Bush charity encompasses several key areas:
- The Mulberry Bush School
- The Mulberry Bush Third Space, our residential space for training and reflection.
- Mulberry Bush Outreach
- Mulberry Bush Research – including the Planned Environment Therapy Archive (based at Third Space)
- Mulberry Bush Consulting
Each of these key areas stems from and builds on the expertise and experience gained through our work at the school and all that we learn from others, allowing us to share our therapeutic approach with a wider audience.
Insights from Experience
Leading such a vital organisation means being not only attuned to the needs of the people we serve and the well-being of our team, but reaching out to share and learn with other colleagues and professionals. I believe in the power of open reflective communication and collaboration and hope this blog delivers something of this collaborative approach, – not only enhancing therapeutic reflective practice but also strengthening our community. Through regular reflection, dialogue and learning, we can better understand how to support each other in this demanding, fulfilling, yet often maligned and misunderstood work.
The Mulberry Bush as a Learning Organisation
As we grow as a charity and learning organisation, we ensure that research and learning continue to influence the highest quality practice. Our journey as a learning organization, rooted in the therapeutic community model, ensures that we continue to evolve, innovate, and provide the best possible service for the people we serve. Through continuous learning and reflection, we remain dedicated to growing the range and reach of our mission of transforming troubled lives together.
So, – I hope you enjoy this blog as it unfolds across the year ahead!
