A child-centred, trauma-informed model focused on rebuilding trust and fostering positive outcomes.
At Blue Dolphin Care, we believe every child in our care is a valued member of our residential community. We use a child-centred, non-judgmental approach that places building trust, stability, and positive relationships at the heart of everything we do.
By establishing clear, reliable boundaries wrapped in deep warmth and compassion, we create space where developmental healing can take root. We focus on understanding the "why" behind behaviours, rather than just reacting to the behaviours themselves.
We combine evidence-based psychological frameworks with daily relational care to help children regulate and grow.
We have embedded the Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) model across all of our residential homes. ARC is an internationally recognised, evidence-based intervention framework designed for children and young people who have experienced complex developmental trauma.
Rather than treating ARC as a theoretical concept, we operationalise the framework through structured daily practices:
Our therapeutic care is designed in partnership with and supported by Meadows Psychology Service (MPS), a clinical psychology-led service specialising in trauma-informed practice and children's residential consultation. This clinical input is backed by active monthly reflective practice sessions for all staff to refine their care approaches.
We support young people in our homes by incorporating the PACE model into our daily interactions. Developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Dan Hughes, PACE is a way of thinking, feeling, communicating, and behaving that helps children feel safe and secure.
This approach is embedded in our day-to-day practice and is evidenced in our daily logs, handover reports, key work sessions, and risk assessments. When a child experiences dysregulation, staff respond with Playfulness to defuse shame, Acceptance of the child's internal distress, Curiosity to understand the trigger, and active Empathy to co-regulate.
Using a light, hopeful tone to defuse tension and make connections.
Unconditionally accepting the child's inner feelings and experiences without judgment.
Wondering about the meaning behind behaviours with a calm, interested attitude.
Feeling the child's distress and demonstrating that they are not alone in it.
We combine a highly structured physical and operational framework to translate our therapeutic ethos into concrete outcomes.
Providing physical environments that are safe, beautifully decorated, warm, and distinctly non-institutional.
Every child has an individual care plan tailored to their specific needs and reviewed regularly in multi-agency meetings.
Children are paired with dedicated key workers, facilitating weekly structured sessions to focus on voice and outcomes.
All staff are recruited in accordance with rigorous safer recruitment guidelines, featuring mandatory enhanced DBS clearances.
Staff receive monthly clinical and professional supervision, alongside extensive training in child development and trauma.
Full integration with local GP, dentist, and optometry practices, alongside regular visits from independent advocates.
At Blue Dolphin Care, credibility is built on rigorous independent inspection, transparent outcomes, and clinical oversight.
Our homes undergo unannounced monthly visits by an independent Regulation 44 visitor. These reports are submitted directly to Ofsted and placing local authorities to ensure we continuously exceed care standard expectations.
The Registered Manager reviews the quality of care quarterly, drafting comprehensive Regulation 45 reports. This reviews system feedback, incident frequencies, staff training gaps, and children's developmental progress.
We monitor tangible developmental outcomes for each child: reduction in missing-from-home episodes, increase in school attendance, improvement in emotional self-regulation, and acquisition of independence skills.
The safety and welfare of the children in our care is our absolute top priority. All staff members undergo thorough child safeguarding training at induction with mandatory annual refreshers, working in close cooperation with local authority safeguarding boards.