At Holistic Childcare & Education, both Closeburn House and Maben House are proud to be trauma-informed services — but what does that really mean?
Many of the young people we support have lived through early developmental trauma. This can involve repeated experienced of insecurity in relationships and a lack of protection during the crucial early stages of childhood. Understandably, these early experiences can create a barrier in developing trust in others. To cope, young people often develop survival skills and strategies, that while protective at the time, can later impact relationships, emotions, behaviour, self-esteem and biology. Sometimes these strategies also push away the very people who are trying to help.
Our role is to create an environment where both young people and staff feel safe, supported and understood. Central to this is embedding reflective practice across our teams. By providing protected time to press the “reset” button together, colleagues can reflect, learn, and build a culture that is responsive, positive, and grounded in an understanding of trauma. This not only strengthens staff wellbeing but also ensures young people receive care that truly meets their needs.
At Closeburn House we are proud to have achieved the Silver Accreditation in Trauma-informed Practice. Some of the key initiatives we have introduced include:
- Regular reflective practice and debrief sessions
- Positive behaviour approaches, guided by the voices of young people through meetings and consultations
- Close collaboration with external partners to support care and education, alongside input from our in-house specialist Occupational Therapist and Wellbeing Clinicians
- Consistent use of Trauma-informed strategies to help young people to regulate emotions and manage behaviour in a constructive way
Across both services, we apply the 3 C’s Model of Trauma-Informed Practice, developed by Dr Leanne Johnson: Connect, Co-Regulate, and Co-Reflect. It is a comprehensive approach based on the current evidence base, emphasising the importance of relationships that young people require in trauma recovery. The Trauma Informed Practice approach encourages the standardisation of practice through the lens of Connect, Co-Regulate and Co-Reflect.
Connect: ensures young people feel seen, heard, and valued, laying the foundation for trust and belonging.
Co-Regulate: provides stability through consistency, predictability, and repetition, helping to calm the “fight, flight, freeze” survival responses that are often deeply ingrained.
Co-Reflect: supports young people in processing shame, reducing fear of rejection, and reinforcing positive boundaries through natural and inclusive approaches.
This model helps remove barriers, builds safety, and gives young people the confidence to engage with support, relationships, and learning in new and meaningful ways.