Caring for Troubled Lives
Therapeutic Care
Our working practice has been developed by creating a ‘Therapeutic Milieu’ (Bettleheim 1948, used the phrase to describe his use of the ‘total environment’ for treatment of disturbed children).
A therapeutic milieu (health promoting environment) is a structured group setting in which the existence of the group is a key factor in the outcome of treatment. Using the combined elements of positive peer pressure, trust, safety and consistency, the therapeutic milieu provides an idealised setting for group members to work through issues. The term is often used to refer to inpatient settings in which clients learn health patterns of living through constant exposure to role models and strict expectations. Within the therapeutic community setting, the client is expected to learn adaptive coping, interaction and relationship skills that can be generalised to other aspects of their life.
At Springfield road children’s home, we have developed a ‘therapeutic milieu’ model that incorporates staff working in a self-reflective way because of the safe and trusting environment. Having daily guidance through hand-over meetings, team meetings, supervisions, training and hands on training with the children and therapist, we can offer a provision where all areas of the environment is designed to contribute to the children and young person’s wellbeing.
How the staff team manage relationships is a prerequisite for working therapeutically with children and young people. We model mutual respect, empathy, energy, resilience, intellectual curiosity, self-reflection, self-awareness, co-operation and playfulness between ourselves and the young people. This allows the team and the young people to grow and develop and the therapy becomes a lived experience in the house.
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“Improving the lives of children and young people who live here.
By providing high quality care, a safe environment, and where high aspirations exist, to help children achieve their best outcomes and fulfil their full potential”
Jane Jarrett
(MSc Systemic Family Psychotherapist) (UKCP)