Blog

Sleep is essential for children’s growth, learning, and emotional well-being. Yet for many children and young people who have lived through adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma, restful sleep can feel difficult to achieve. Carers often describe long settling times, frequent waking, distress in the night, or patterns of exhaustion that affect concentration and […]

Foster care offers children the chance to experience safety, consistency and connection after periods of instability or trauma. When placements work well, they provide a powerful foundation for healing and growth. But foster carers are often supporting children with complex emotional histories, while navigating high expectations and systemic pressures that can feel overwhelming. At Meadows […]

Working with children and young people means not only supporting their present needs but also understanding their past experiences and how those experiences shape who they are today. Increasingly, the term adverse childhood experiences or ACEs has become central to conversations about childhood trauma, resilience, and support systems. But what are ACEs, and why do […]

A Comprehensive Guide for Trauma-Informed Work with Children and Young People Working with children and young people who have experienced trauma can be both deeply meaningful and incredibly complex. Their behaviours often communicate what they struggle to articulate or don’t yet have words for; e.g., distress, unmet needs, and survival strategies developed in unsafe environments. […]

Caring for children who have experienced early trauma or disrupted attachments requires more than love and stability. It requires a deep understanding of how those early experiences shape behaviour, relationships, and emotional development. At Meadows Psychology Service, we work closely with foster carers, adopters, and professionals to support children with complex needs using trauma-informed approaches, […]

Engaging in trauma-informed care is incredibly rewarding, enabling you to offer support and assistance to individuals who may not have experienced the care they rightfully deserve. However, working in a trauma-informed way can also be emotionally challenging at times. When supporting children or young people with experience of the care system, it’s important to recognise […]

Working in trauma-informed care is deeply meaningful, but it can also take an emotional toll. Professionals in this field are consistently holding space for others’ pain, often hearing distressing stories and offering support through intense emotional experiences. Over time, this sustained exposure to suffering can lead health care professionals to develop compassion fatigue (or what […]

As we step into Foster Care Fortnight 2025, it’s essential to pause and reflect on the collective commitment of thousands of foster carers across the nation who open their hearts and homes to children in need of care, love, and stability.  This national campaign to raise awareness runs from May 12th to May 25th, aiming […]

Working in social care with children and young people who have experienced early trauma requires not only knowledge and skill but also a deep awareness of one’s own thoughts, beliefs and actions. Reflective practice is a crucial component of professional development in social care, allowing practitioners to analyse their experiences, improve their services, and ultimately […]