THE CHILDREN WE LOOK AFTER

The children we look after are highly vulnerable and come to us in crisis and at risk. Many are the victims of criminal and sexual exploitation and have experienced trauma, insecure attachments, abuse and neglect.

These experiences often lead to behavioural and emotional dysregulation. Our goal is to help children move away from the protective patterns of behaviours they’ve developed in response to their trauma, towards patterns of protection, fostering a sense of safety and trust.

OUR THERAPEUTIC CARE

Our care programme is an intensive, holistic programme of care, education and health and wellbeing which supports children to move towards their plan for permanence. This programme typically lasts for a period of 17 weeks, with one child living in each home supported by two carers.

Our model of individual group living is designed to provide each child with the intensive support and attention they need to recover and heal. Located in rural settings, our homes leverage the healing power of nature to create a calming, restorative environment. This natural backdrop plays a vital role in helping children feel grounded and supported as they move through their journey of recovery.

Throughout the crucial stabilisation phase, our care teams work in close collaboration with experienced therapists to ensure each child receives the appropriate therapeutic guidance. This process not only addresses their immediate emotional needs but also supports the development of a more secure attachment orientation, laying the foundation for healthier emotional connections and regulation skills.

Once the child has reached a greater level of emotional stability, we can introduce more formal therapeutic interventions. In order to develop plans of support and care, we conduct comprehensive psychological assessments to better understand each child’s unique needs. This holistic and structured approach not only prepares the child for deeper therapeutic work but also facilitates a smooth transition to their next placement, ensuring continued progress on their path to healing and growth.

CHILD-CENTRED CARE

We adopt a therapeutic model of care which is articulated through our proprietary NATURE model. This is a framework designed to support the holistic development of children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties because of trauma and adversity.

The acronym NATURE encapsulates six essential elements: Nurture, Attachment, Trust, Understanding, Resilience and Education.

This model is child centred and trauma responsive, drawing on research from renowned experts and thought leaders in child development and the effects of trauma, to foster the physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth of children in a safe and nurturing environment. The model provides a structured yet flexible framework to meet the diverse needs of children in our care who cannot live at home.

The measure of the success of our programme of care is the outcomes which our children achieve and the satisfaction of their families and our Local Authority partners.

Testimonials

What Others Say About Us

We just wanted to thank you all for the work you have done to support our son. Your care, kindness and expertise towards him has been outstanding, and despite everything, we have always felt so secure that he is safe with you guys and in the best possible place. The care teams are brilliant and the way they have persisted to bring him to where he is now has been amazing. What stands out is the way you have all been genuinely prepared to make this work for him, and your care and integrity have enabled him to make such progress.

The care teams are highly efficient, compassionate and dedicated to our child. He has made significant progress there. He has clearly built good relationships with his carers, who show a real understanding of him, his care history, family background and needs.

There has been a great turnaround with this young man. He has had a break from being in a very dangerous situation, and has engaged in activities and rebuilt his character and self-esteem. Although he was only with Wilderness for a short time, it has had a significant impact on his emotional wellbeing, safety and outlook on life.

I am truly taken aback by the level of care you have shown. The staff have gone out of their way to show him the attention and care that he has never had. When I visited him, it was like I was looking at a different child to what he was before he came. He was not like a child in care, he was like a child in a family. You have literally saved his life.