Creating an Inclusive Environment to Promote Recovery: Relational Practice

by | Jan 16, 2024

Relational Practice is a way of working that recognizes the primary importance of the quality of relationships. It is the foundation upon which effective interventions are made and it forms the conditions for a healthy relational environment. It is relevant across all sectors, fields and specialties.

This conference is suitable for all practitioners working to help children and young people who have experienced complex trauma to recover so that they can have a better chance to take their place in their communities with confidence, make mutually satisfying relationships with others and fulfil their potential.

Speakers from a background in education, therapeutic residential care, foster care and youth custody will share their models of working. Workshops for these specialties will then provide an opportunity for participants to apply the ideas within their own working contexts.

This event is presented by The Mulberry Bush and The Institute of Recovery of Childhood Trauma.

Book Tickets

09:30

Registration, coffee and networking

10:00 - Welcome

Dave Roberts - Head of Outreach, Mulberry Bush

Sylvia Duncan - Chair of the IRCT

10:20

Dave Roberts - Head of Outreach, Mulberry Bush

Sylvia Duncan - Chair of the IRCT

10:40 Session 1 – Relational Practice in Schools

Josh Tyler - Head of School Biscovey Academy Cornwall

As a trauma responsive school, Josh will present how Biscovey Academy places the child’s emotional needs at the heart of all they do and ensure that all of our adults have the emotional capacity to support all of our children in the very best way possible. As importantly as the core academic skills our children learn, we want everyone to be happy within school, feel safe and confident to take on the challenges they will face as they grow older.

11:10

Q&A

11:20 Session 2 - Relational Practice in Foster Care

Sylvia Duncan - Chair of the IRCT

Sylvia Duncan is a Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist who since qualifying in 1972 has dedicated her professional life to working with traumatised children and adults. She has researched and published widely in the field of child abuse and neglect and provided therapeutic services for children and families as well as consultation and training to parents, carers and other professionals working with abused, neglected and traumatised children to help them promote recovery from trauma. She helped to develop and run a therapeutic re-parenting foster scheme for seventeen years.

11:50

Q&A

12:00 - 12:15 Coffee Break
12:00 - 12:15 Coffee Break

12:15 Session 3 - Relational Practice in Residential Care Settings

Mike Staines - Venue Lead, Mulberry Bush Third Space

Mike has worked in the field of residential therapeutic childcare for over 25 years, principally within the Mulberry Bush organization and is currently the Venue Lead at the Mulberry Bush Third Space. Mike has been involved with Community of Community projects since 2011, mostly as lead or TC specialist for accreditations and peer reviews whilst also supporting the development of CofC/TCTC Core Competencies. Mike has significant experience facilitating small groups and is a facilitator for the Living Learning Experience training course. He is a trustee of The Consortium for Therapeutic Communities and was co-chair of TCTC’s Children’s network for many years. He is a member of APCIOSS and part of the Relational Practice Movement.

12:45

Q&A

12:55

Films - The Voice of the Child

13:15 - 14:00 Lunch
13:15 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 Session 4 - Relational Practice in Secure Therapeutic Care/Youth Justice

Dr Celia Sadie - Clinical Psychologist, OASIS Restore

Dr Celia Sadie is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, an organisational consultant, and Director of Care and Wellbeing at Oasis Restore. She has worked with adolescents and their families throughout her career, in in-patient and secure settings, specialising in trauma, and has published on therapeutic work with children in custody. With her fellow Directors at Oasis Restore, she has created the therapeutic framework for the new secure school, which is due to open this Spring.

14:30

Q&A

14:40

Workshops

15:40

Closing Plenary