Wellbeing And Therapeutic Support
At Hillside, emotional wellbeing is at the heart of our care and education approach. Our dedicated Wellbeing Co-ordinator works closely with young people, families and staff teams to provide consistent, trauma-informed support that helps young people feel safe, understood and emotionally supported.
Young people benefit from regular individual wellbeing sessions designed to build trusting relationships, develop emotional literacy and strengthen coping and self-regulation skills. Sessions are tailored to individual needs and may include creative activities, sensory approaches and therapeutic conversations in a calm and supportive environment.
Our wellbeing support helps young people identify strengths, understand emotions and develop practical strategies to manage distress and build resilience. Staff work collaboratively with families and partner agencies to ensure support is consistent across all areas of a young person’s life.
By creating secure, predictable and nurturing relationships, we support learners to engage positively in school, residential life and the wider community, helping them grow in confidence, wellbeing and independence.
Therapeutic Support And Emotional Safety
At Hillside School, we are committed to creating environments where young people feel safe, understood and supported, particularly during times of distress or crisis. Our staff are trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), a trauma-informed approach developed by Cornell University that helps adults understand the underlying needs and emotions behind behaviour.
Through TCI, staff use supportive relationships, emotional regulation strategies and early de-escalation approaches to help young people feel calm, safe and emotionally contained. We recognise that many young people may have experienced trauma or adversity, and we respond with empathy, consistency and understanding.
Our approach is fully aligned with the values of The Promise and our commitment to reducing restrictive practices. Physical intervention is always a last resort and is only used in exceptional circumstances where there is an immediate risk of harm.
At Hillside, we believe that relationships are central to healing and growth. Following times of distress, staff work alongside young people to repair relationships, reflect on experiences and develop safer ways to communicate feelings and manage emotions.
“True safety is not found in restriction, but in relationships. Our commitment to reducing restrictive practices reflects our respect for the rights, dignity and healing journey of every young person in our care.”
Every young person has an individualised care and education plan that reflects their strengths, needs, goals and aspirations. Individuals are actively involved in planning and reviewing their support, alongside families and professionals important to them.
Our integrated care and education teams work together to ensure support is consistent, meaningful and focused on positive outcomes. We regularly review progress and celebrate achievements, helping learners build confidence, resilience, independence and a sense of belonging.
We work in partnership with young people, families, and professionals to promote wellbeing across all areas of life, supporting young people to feel safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included.