Imagine Care: Bravery and attunement in care

Introduction

In late 2024, Imagine Care opened their new house, Lochend. This was a house that was going to provide two young people with additional support needs to have a forever home.

Lochend chose to take on the model of attunement  – as well as a Risk Enablement approach – in the hope of having both young people live a fulfilled life and staff being empowered and brave to achieve this for the young people.

Diane Cafferky, the registered manager at Lochend, said:

"Our young people, like many others we support, are bright, loving, and full of potential, but have also experienced restrictive practices which impacted on their ability to shine."

Creating a safe, stable and nurturing home

The first step was to create a home that felt safe, stable, and nurturing. A house was sourced in a welcoming community, and a team was built around the specific support requirements. Every team member received training in trauma-informed and needs-led care, with an emphasis on attunement and enablement. The management team also received Trauma Skilled training to provide a supportive environment for staff as well as the young people.

Over a structured transition period, the team worked closely with families, external professionals, and health services to understand needs in depth. This informed adaptations to the environment and helped build a foundation for emotional safety and trust.

Diane said:

The culture of the home is intentionally shaped to be safe, loving, brave, and rights-respecting.

Starting with emotional containment and then embedding a Risk Enablement Approach, the team focuses on each young person’s strengths and capabilities, not solely on risk or limitation. This allows young people and staff alike to take positive, supported steps into the wider world, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

Overcoming barriers

In setting up the home, the team had a number of barriers to overcome, which provided plenty of learning.

Diane explained:

The early stages of any transition bring both opportunities and challenges.

There were moments of dysregulation, fear, and uncertainty, but these were met with patience, flexibility, and courage.

Adjustments, such as adapting transport arrangements or increasing staff support during key transitions, helped remove barriers and build confidence.

Staff resilience was central to this journey. Even when incidents occurred or confidence was shaken, the team remained consistent, attuned, and compassionate.

This stability created a sense of safety that supported the young person’s development. A strong core team remained in place, demonstrating commitment and love.

The families and professionals working with the home noticed the changes quickly. Their feedback reflected growing trust and appreciation for the home’s supportive, nurturing environment. One family member stated:

You gave me my ‘B’ back

Reducing Restrictions and Empowering Communication

A key focus has been gently and safely reducing unnecessary restrictions on the children in their care. This started with the team reviewing Risk Enablement and Care Plans. Over time, restrictions and physical interventions significantly decreased.

Diane said:

What once felt high-risk became shared moments of achievement and empowerment.

Communication development was another milestone. The team provided patient, consistent support, which resulted in one of the young people progressing from very limited verbal communication, to using words, spelling, and memory strategies with growing confidence.

Diane explained:

This not only supported self-expression but also strengthened relationships and participation in daily life.

Inclusion was another significant improvement with both young people being accepted into their community and one young person joining local groups to express their likes and identity, something they had not been part of before.

Positive Outcomes

This approach has led to clear, measurable progress, including:

• Emotional attunement and containment: allowing young people a safe space to feel their emotions with those that make them feel safe.
• Increased participation in community life: with daily engagement in meaningful activities.
• Significant reduction in physical restraints: they had 7 in the year they have been open and none in 7 months.
• Growth in communication skills: enabling more confident and autonomous self-expression.
• Stronger staff retention: achieved through realistic recruitment and values-based team development.

One staff member reflected:

At first, I was apprehensive, but seeing the progress and achievements has made me proud to be part of this team. The young people here are safe, loved, and thriving.

Final Reflections

Diane concluded:

This journey has demonstrated the power of bravery, attunement, and love. By creating a nurturing environment that celebrates strengths, we have supported young people to live fuller, freer lives with far fewer restrictions.

This model is not just about providing a house: it’s about creating a home where young people feel seen, valued, and supported to reach their potential. And from recent learning, Lochend will continue to look at Containment Theory and to use this model to keep the promise.