This young person’s needs included complex trauma, CSE and CCE risks.

Prior to Protective Care Group, this young person had a DOLs order in place and experienced several periods in secure accommodation, was highly dysregulated and exhibited extreme self-harm and aggression.

The transition into her placement with Protective Care Group was a difficult time for this young person as they had experienced multiple other placements and limited stability. Initially, this young person continued to exhibit self-harm and aggressive behaviours as well as absconding frequently.

As a result, her corporate parent discussed whether returning to secure accommodation would be a more suitable, due to the risk being in the community posed on the young person and the number of police interventions. However, her care team remained consistent in their delivery of specialist person-centred and trauma-informed care. Very slowly this young person began to engage with her care team as she saw that no matter what, they were going to be there for her. Trust started to develop and soon she started to become more regulated than not.

As she started to approach the transition into adulthood, she began to express an interest in wanting to be part of Protective Care Group’s induction day for new Support Workers. Through careful planning, she took part in a questions and answers session with new Support Workers, talking openly about her experience being in care.

Following this, her care team began to shift their focus on developing skills essential for adulthood, like learning to live more independently and CV writing skills. This led to the young person getting a job, engaging in a plan for their future, having regular family contact again and transitioning successfully into a more independent living arrangement. The outcome for this young person is one that we are so incredibly proud of and highlights the importance of resilience, consistency and genuine care when supporting extremely vulnerable young people.