Child F came into the care of Protective Care Group (PCG) following several periods in secure accommodation. She was a highly dysregulated young person, presenting with severe behavioural challenges, including self-harm, aggression, and a significant risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE). At first, she struggled to settle unless loud music was constantly playing. She would often isolate herself or attempt to ligature, which was of great concern to her care team.

Although undiagnosed, there were strong indications that she was on the autism spectrum (ASD) and suffering from significant trauma.

The team explored various techniques to support her, including day trips, exercise, and shopping outings. However, progress was slow, and some days were extremely difficult. On good days, she was calm and polite, but on others, she would become aggressive, abscond, or self-harm. Each day presented new challenges, and unfortunately, some staff became so burnt out that they had to be transferred to other services. Nevertheless, we remained committed to her care, employing a range of therapeutic methods such as ‘Trauma-Informed Care’, PACE, Therapeutic Care, and, when necessary, physical interventions.

At one point, the local authority determined that Child F was no longer safe in the community and placed her on another secure order, increasing her care to a 3:1 ratio to ensure the safety of both her and her team.

However, while waiting for a secure placement, a significant change occurred. Child F’s behaviour began to improve, and she started to build trust with her care team. The transformation was remarkable. The team continued to provide dedicated support, and as her trust grew, so did her progress. In light of these positive changes, the local authority decided that a secure placement was no longer necessary.

Child F was no longer withdrawing from her care team. Instead, she was engaging, laughing, joking, and having more good days than bad. Her confidence blossomed, and as part of her personal development, we invited her to one of our Assessment Days to speak with potential new staff about her experiences. She embraced this responsibility wholeheartedly, standing up in front of the group and sharing her story. She openly described herself as a ‘total nightmare’ in the past, but proudly explained how she now enjoyed a positive relationship with her team and how much fun they had together. She also expressed that PCG had changed her life for the better, calling us the best care team she had ever had (and she had experienced many).

After a few more months of steady progress, it was decided that Child F was ready for a more independent living arrangement. This next step was a turning point for her, allowing her to thrive. She also re-established regular contact with her mum, thanks to the ongoing support of her care team.

We cannot overstate how challenging and unstable Child F’s situation was when we first began working with her. There were numerous police interventions due to her violent outbursts, involvement with drugs, and associations with child criminal exploitation (CCE) and other dangerous situations.

We are incredibly proud of this young lady and all that she has achieved. She has shown tremendous resilience, and we wish her nothing but success and happiness in her future.