Claire Houghton and Joe Lucas
A Circle of Understanding
Headlands is an independent day and residential special school that provides high quality education and care to children and young people aged 7 to 19 years. Our therapeutic model of education and residential care is based on the principles of Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and has been developed by the staff at Headlands residential homes and school. The model is designed for children and young people who have experienced early developmental trauma and those young people with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Conditions.
Our model holds the child at the centre of our thinking and is structured to meet the complex needs of all the children and young people we work with. Our relational-informed approach is underpinned by Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. Our understanding of children who have experienced trauma is that relationships which are PACEful – playful, accepting, curious and empathic – are the key to developing positive outcomes. There are many aspects of DDP which allow our staff team to design and implement successful routines and interventions for our pupils. Working with our pupils can be both physically and emotionally draining and so, it is of the utmost importance that we provide out staff with the tools they need to remain receptive and empathic with both pupils and each other.
The Circle of Understanding was formulated to develop empathy in a staff team towards a pupil. This can be an incredibly powerful tool, especially when a child is putting stress on the system. The “Circle” requires the team to consider how the child presents and their current behaviour patterns followed by their trauma timeline. After considering this information the team collaborates to make informed guesses of how the child sees themselves, adults and the world around them.
Our session will incorporate discussion of how we best understand and work with our pupils and a practical session where delegates will be able to practise a Circle of Understanding as well as a short question and answer session.
A Circle of Understanding
Headlands is an independent day and residential special school that provides high quality education and care to children and young people aged 7 to 19 years. Our therapeutic model of education and residential care is based on the principles of Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and has been developed by the staff at Headlands residential homes and school. The model is designed for children and young people who have experienced early developmental trauma and those young people with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Conditions.
Our model holds the child at the centre of our thinking and is structured to meet the complex needs of all the children and young people we work with. Our relational-informed approach is underpinned by Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention. Our understanding of children who have experienced trauma is that relationships which are PACEful – playful, accepting, curious and empathic – are the key to developing positive outcomes. There are many aspects of DDP which allow our staff team to design and implement successful routines and interventions for our pupils. Working with our pupils can be both physically and emotionally draining and so, it is of the utmost importance that we provide out staff with the tools they need to remain receptive and empathic with both pupils and each other.
The Circle of Understanding was formulated to develop empathy in a staff team towards a pupil. This can be an incredibly powerful tool, especially when a child is putting stress on the system. The “Circle” requires the team to consider how the child presents and their current behaviour patterns followed by their trauma timeline. After considering this information the team collaborates to make informed guesses of how the child sees themselves, adults and the world around them.
Our session will incorporate discussion of how we best understand and work with our pupils and a practical session where delegates will be able to practise a Circle of Understanding as well as a short question and answer session.
