The Halliwell practice model is based on Clinically Informed Practice which is best defined as:

• Psychological research underpinning the support and practice for Looked After Children
• Matching the right support package for each and every child referred to us

The model follows a progressive route which begins with an intensive recovery programme for the children placed within the organisation before they can transfer from the residential setting to a fostering placement.

Halliwell developed this model following supportive evidence and expertise from a wide range of care professionals, which included chartered child psychologists, play therapists, psychotherapists, qualified health professionals and cognitive psychologists, who worked on each placement based on the needs of the child.

Evidence of the success of this model has proved that children with high levels of trauma follow a positive life trajectory moving through stabilisation, psychological recovery, educational achievement, independence and employment.

The programme provided by Halliwell for children placed with us is a progressive route which is led by our clinical team made up of our Psychologists, Sharon Lissaman and Dr. Chris Robinson; Child Therapist, Judith James; retained Psychiatrist, Dr Malcolm Bourne and Practice Director, Karen Mitchell-Mellor. This team is overseen by Dr Sean Cameron, a widely published Child Psychologist and author of the Pillars of Parenting material which underpins our practice model. The clinical team provide guidance, assessment, and therapeutic response to the identified needs of each individual child as well as present and conduct practice team consultations and training in order to filter down knowledge and experience and enhance the therapeutic environment provided by the practice team. For more information on our clinical team click here.

 

Restorative Parenting

Our practice model incorporates the Restorative Parenting Recovery Programme which is supported by the ‘Pillars of Parenting’. This plan aims to enhance the child’s psychological wellbeing over an 18-24 month period to such a level that the young person can then transfer into a secure foster placement. Schooling works alongside this process at our Ofsted registered Willow House school, although the transition to mainstream education is expected to have been achieved before the point of transfer into fostering. 

Additionally, we have a developed Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for our practice team members. This is a major part of our practice model as it is of vital importance that our employees are able to develop our practice on a psychological and professional basis. To this end, all our residential staff are graduates or undergraduates in Professional Childcare and the Pillars of Parenting with further training in identifying and managing ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome and complex learning difficulties. Individuals also participate within the QCF development programme up to level five.

Foster carers follow the study programme gaining both qualifications and a higher level of knowledge and understanding in order to respond to displayed behaviours with a greater level of insight. Our foster carers are supported for an additional eighteen months by the clinical team during which intensive re-parenting is concluded with engagement in therapeutic life story support. The culmination of any young person’s care plan is to be supported in a low intensity “normal” foster parenting placement.

The Pillars of Parenting

"The Pillars of Parenting are a social enterprise project which looks to bring a model of care which is both pedagogic and psychologically based within all levels of care. We support the Pillars of Parenting though the theory we have developed, the training we supply, the access to charted child psychologists and the programmes and strategies that we develop which is unique for each child.”

“Through our long running partnership with Halliwell, we have created a relationship which holistically supports any child in their care with the very best of professional care and psychological support."

For more information on our practice partners, the Pillars of Parenting, please click here.