Therapeutic Approaches in Children’s Homes

Therapeutic care in children’s residential homes is best understood as a "way of being" rather than formal therapy. As the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) explains, it describes ways of working in which residential childcare workers use a therapeutic perspective in their day-to-day practice — distinct from, but complementary to, evidence-based therapies such as CBT.

Carers working therapeutically consider the living environment, a young person’s early experiences of safety and nurture, and frameworks such as the PACE model (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy). By understanding how early life shapes a child’s internal working models and drives behaviour, care teams can create calmer, safer environments, build stronger relationships, improve outcomes for young people, and sustain their own wellbeing.