Specialist psychology-led training for children’s residential care homes

At Gateway Psychology, we recognise that effective training is central to good residential care. Staff who feel equipped and confident are better able to provide consistent, trauma-informed support to the young people they care for. Our training focuses on practical approaches such as therapeutic caregiving and PACE, helping teams bring psychological ideas into daily practice. Sessions can be delivered face to face in our local area or virtually across the country. Training can complement our Bronze, Silver, and Gold residential care packages, or be commissioned as a standalone option tailored to the needs of your staff team.

PACE training for residential care homes

Our PACE training for residential care homes goes beyond the basics. While PACE provides a valuable foundation, our approach is rooted in therapeutic caregiving, offering staff a deeper understanding of what it means to care therapeutically day to day. We draw on a range of well-evidenced models, including Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Non-Violent Resistance, to ensure training is both theoretically robust and practical. Staff gain not only an in-depth understanding of the principles but also concrete techniques they can apply immediately in their work with young people.

Bespoke training for residential care homes

Every residential care home faces its own unique challenges, and we recognise that “off the shelf” training is not always enough. That is why we design bespoke training packages that respond to the specific needs of your staff team and the children you care for.

From understanding the impact of trauma on daily life, to supporting children with additional needs such as autism and ADHD, to strengthening staff wellbeing and resilience, our psychologists can create workshops that directly address the issues that matter most in your setting. These sessions combine theory with practical strategies, giving staff clear tools they can take straight back into practice.

Example topics

  • De-escalation Strategies and Non-Violent Communication
  • Understanding and Supporting Children with Autism & ADHD
  • Staff Emotional Resilience and Burnout Prevention
  • Boundaries and Emotional Safety for Staff
  • Supporting Transitions and Placement Stability
  • Gender Identity and Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People
  • Shame, Guilt, and Behaviour: Understanding Internalised Emotions
  • Polyvagal Theory in Residential Practice
  • Writing Effective Behaviour Support Plans

Online training for residential care homes

Our training is available to children’s residential care homes across the UK. We deliver sessions online for teams nationwide, or face to face for homes in Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Stoke-on-Trent. This flexible approach makes it easier for staff to access psychology-led, trauma-informed training, whether you are looking for a single session or a programme alongside our residential care packages.

Impact, outcomes and feedback

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improvement in staff understanding & impact of early trauma
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improvement in staff confidence in applying therapeutic principles
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managers believe our services offer value for money

The presenter is really knowledgeable and offered a lot of advice/reassurance/helpful input, corrected when necessary in a respectful and therapeutic way

Our presenter was fantastic! Her enthusiasm on the subject matter promotes this within myself

A good mix of talking, videos and games. Thank you!

Great mix of practical and powerpoint/video

Both trainers were very knowledgeable, informative and interactive

An informative relevant training course, thank you.

It was really good and I improved on a lot of things

Very good knowledge – really great trainer

This allows us an intial understanding of our young person and some of the behaviours we have been experiencing

The training was knowledgeable and engaging

Why invest in training for your team?

Investing in training brings benefits that reach beyond the training room. Staff who feel equipped with the right knowledge and skills are more confident in their roles, more consistent in their practice, and better able to support young people in ways that feel safe and therapeutic.

For managers, training demonstrates a commitment to embedding trauma-informed, therapeutic care as part of everyday practice.

Training can help:

  • Reduce placement disruptions and increase stability
  • Strengthen relationships between staff and young people
  • Build a shared understanding and consistent approach across the team
  • Improve staff confidence and resilience in day-to-day practice
  • Provide clear evidence for Ofsted inspections and Regulation 44 visits

FAQs

We provide a wide range of training for children’s residential care homes, including trauma-informed practice, therapeutic caregiving, attachment, emotional regulation, staff wellbeing, and specialist topics such as autism, ADHD, and identity. We also deliver PACE training as part of a broader therapeutic framework

All training is developed and delivered by our specialist multidisciplinary team, including clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, and psychological therapists. Our clinicians are DBS-checked and registered with professional bodies such as HCPC, Social Work England and Play Therapy UK.

Yes. We design bespoke training to meet the needs of your staff team and the children you care for. This might focus on managing challenging behaviour, supporting transitions, developing reflective practice, or strengthening staff resilience.

Yes. Participants receive a certificate of attendance that can be used towards CPD and professional development records.

Yes. We deliver training nationwide online, as well as face to face for homes based in Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Stoke-on-Trent.

We offer flexible formats: from short workshops and half-day sessions to full-day training and multi-session programmes. Training can be fitted around the needs of your staff team and shift patterns.

Yes. Our training is designed to strengthen trauma-informed and therapeutic practice in line with Ofsted expectations and Regulation 44 standards. Many homes also use our sessions as evidence of staff development, reflective practice, and a commitment to continuous improvement during inspections.

Costs vary depending on the format, content, and delivery method. Please contact us to discuss your needs and receive a tailored quotation.