Therapeutic Parenting in Residential Child Care (TPRCC)

Please note the illustration sits within our three-tiered framework of intervention. The illustration demonstrates tier one of this model where practitioners’ capacity is developed through psychological training, applied workshops, consultancy and reflective practice.

We have used a DNA illustration to emphasise the strands of Safety, PACE and RRR as these are strategies our team continually use in their interactions with the child.

Safety should always be considered in your practice and is the first thing we need to do to create predictability for the young people.

These strands will constantly oscillate depending on what the child needs from you at a given time.

The steps through the middle of the DNA are also strategies practitioners will apply in their practice.

The first step of this model is to understand the child’s history in the context of their attachment and traumatic experiences as this provides context to their behaviour.

The next is to ensure that structure, routines and boundaries are the cornerstone of what is, and what is not, acceptable within your home. This also creates predictability if implemented consistently. Being attuned to yourself (knowing your triggers, window of tolerance and having strategies to cope) as well as being attuned to the child’s emotional state and the environment is next on the step as this allows you to be proactive rather than reactive within your home environment.

Connecting before correcting is another strategy that practitioners can keep in mind when children are dysregulated, and their behaviour becomes challenging. If we try and correct before understanding what is going on for them it may trigger a shield of shame, which can get into a cycle of drama. Moving up the steps when you are aware of what you are doing and why you can consciously practice being a TPRCC. This requires you to know yourself as well as the child, team and environment.

Understanding and managing trauma responses will require an understanding of their history as well as reading the child so you can intervene safely.

Once regulated you can scaffold the child’s personal growth and belonging. Overtime, this restores their genuine self and transforms into applying new coping strategies and integrating the seven domains of trauma impacting on their sense of self, regulated emotionally, biologically and behaviourally, where they can use their cognitive and executive functioning skills to stay consciously present.

This will all be underpinned by your attachment relationship with the young person where they can learn to trust others and they can be trusted by others, allowing a reciprocal flow of supportive nurturing interactions.